Ergonomic Pierce-Free Weight-Bearing Earrings, Earring Components And Methods For Making And Fitting Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to ergonomic pierce-free custom-fitted earring devices capable of bearing ornamentation weighing about 30 grams or more, and more safely and comfortably mounting the same onto the lowermost one-third of each ear without utilizing the lobule of the ear, wherein the fully latched front loop of the first end and the rear component on the second end comprise critical ear-contact-points that engage a thickness of concha cavum cartilage at the front and rear of the ear with little to no perceived squeezing. Methods of making such earring devices comprise effective and efficient methods to ensure accuracy of fit of these earrings to within about 1 to about 3 millimeters for each of multiple critical ear-variable-dimensions (EVD) that taken in concert serve to fit individuals and/or segments of the population of potential and/or targeted wearers, wherein certain preferred embodiments of such methods comprise computer-implemented sizing and fitting processes that convert EVDs into individually grouped fit gauges that are correlated to any of thousands of circumscribed fit profiles, enabling the efficient fabrication of custom-fitted devices, the setting of the same with weighted jewelry ornamentation, and delivering of the same as finished.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of a US patent application that was filed on Aug. 3, 2021 as U.S. Ser. No. 63/229,068, which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to jewelry and, in particular, earrings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There exists a need in the fine jeweler and fashion-costume jewelry industries for pierce-free weight-bearing alternatives to one-size-fits-all earrings for attaching and/or displaying jewelry on the lower one-third of the ear. There is also a need for earrings that enhance precious metal and/or gem sustainability by providing earrings that can be used, reused, and/or recycled with or without different ornamentation. In addition, there exists a need for earrings that can safety mount heavier ornamentation, above about 20 grams or more. Furthermore, there is also a need for earrings that cover ear lobules that have been damaged, altered, or are otherwise not preferable, such as gauged holes and ripped, stretched or enlarged piercings. There is also a need for methods for fitting earrings that have advantageous properties, such as some or all of those identified above, to individual ears.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of this invention provide the wearer of jewelry, and the fine jeweler and fashion-costume jewelry industries, with custom-fit pierce-free weight-bearing earrings and earring components. Certain embodiments of this invention are capable of enhancing precious metal and/or gem sustainability by providing earrings and earring components that can be used, reused, and/or recycled with or without different ornamentation. Certain embodiments of this invention can also provide for earrings and earring components that can safety mount heavier ornamentation, above about 20 grams, and more preferably above about 30 grams. Certain embodiments of this invention provide earring and earring components that cover ear lobules that have been damaged, altered, or are otherwise not preferable (e.g., not preferred by the wearer of the earrings), such as gauged holes and/or ripped or enlarged piercings. Certain embodiments of this invention also provide methods for fitting earrings and earring components to individual or groups of ears, including fitting the earrings and earring components of this invention.

In certain of the most preferred embodiments of this invention, a custom-fit fasten-on earring base device is provided for an individual's ear, the ear having an antitragus peak rise with adjacent dips; a concha with an inner conchal cavum pocket floor, a concha cavum wall, and a rear eminence of the concha; and a lobule. The base of these embodiments comprises a number of components, including (a) a frontal-display fixture-plate for placing heads and/or designs for setting precious gems and/or other jewelry; (b) a front loop comprising a steep diverging-banded upper nexus above the frontal-display fixture that is a bend-angled fastening mount shaped like a backward-bent clothoid loop, said front loop serving as a mounting latch that reaches up and over, and simultaneously flanks, the antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips, while accommodating any relative differences in the height of each dip; (c) an end loop portion on the front loop that extends to and engages the depth of the inner conchal cavum pocket floor at multiple points and forms a fulcrum for the base; (d) a sharp curve at the device's lower-most portion that runs under and clears the longest tissue of the individual's ear lobule from front to back (about face) as disposed below the lower end of the frontal-display fixture location in front and joining with a lower rear-lobule portion in back; (e) the lower rear-lobule portion connects to the curving lower-most portion on the lower side and to a rear hinge on the higher side, skimming past the rear lobule; (f) the rear hinge selected from the group consisting of a click-back hinge, a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure hinge, a sway-to-snap hinge connected to the lower rear lobule portion, another hinge construction, or their equivalents; and (g) an extended rear-fitter member that contacts the rear eminence of the concha at multiple points, and which is engaged and disposed at the rear hinge.

With these most preferred embodiments of the base device, the opening between the front loop and the extended rear-fitter member is defined by the amount of pressure imposed on a thickness of the concha cavum wall when in closed hinging position, which will not be more than about 32,361 Pascals of pressure. In addition, the base when fastened into the conchal cavum pocket floor in front, clears the soft-tissue lobule at bottom, and is hinge-closed in rear such that the extended rear-fitter member spoons the rear eminence of the concha, and said base is coupled to the lower one-third of the ear including the area where traditional piercing earrings display décor.

Also, with these most preferred embodiments of the base device, the base is capable of safely and securely carrying adornments with weight levels up to and greater than about 30 grams per ear; the frontal-display fixture component may preferably comprise a fixture-plate; may preferably comprise a center-receiving socket for receiving decorative snap caps, may preferably comprise a center-receiving slide-in socket for receiving decorative T-bar backed adornment with a securing mechanism activated at click in, may preferably comprise vertical tubing of differing lengths for receiving short bent pierced-posts or longer brooches and pins secured vertically, and may preferably comprise onboarding features such as adaptors for adding “cargo” at top, bottom, and/or middle to include a clip-on earring adaptor at bottom or top (not shown) and pierce earring adaptors at top, middle and bottom.

Furthermore, with these most preferred embodiments other than those comprising fixed-set fine jewelry at the fixture plate, the base may further comprise an open-ended slide on adaptor that is disposed on the front portion of the front fastener latch loop, and onto which additional décor may be onboarded. The base may also further comprise a dangleixed closed loop adaptor that is disposed on the front center portion of the frontal display area, or the lower portion of a cargo base device onto which additional décor maybe onboarded. Moreover, the frontal-display component fixture may be a short tube with an open-end that is disposed at the center of a frontal-display wire band, with or without silicone lining, into which a bent pierced-post earring may be inserted, or a longer tube into which a vertically placed brooch or pin may be inserted.

In preferred embodiments of this invention, for fitting individuals, groups of individuals, and/or populations of individuals, five critical ear variable dimensions (EVD), or “Five EVD measurements” are taken:

-   -   EVD1=Concha cavum pocket-depth, preferably measured with a         concha cavum pocket-depth probe of this invention;     -   EVD2=Antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, preferably measured         with a ruler;     -   EVD3=Antitragus ridge decline slope angle, preferably measured         with a centered protractor;     -   EVD4=Ear length below the antitragus ridge, preferably measured         with a ruler; and     -   EVD5=Ear lobule height, preferably measured with a ruler.

In embodiments of this invention, certain methods of making (e.g., fitting components to an ear) of earrings and/or earring components (e.g., an earring base component) to an individual ear using Five EVD measurements comprise (a) measuring at least the Five EVD measurements; and (b) fabricating (e.g., creating, forming, or adjusting a pre-formed shape) the earring and/or earring component to conform to the Five EVD measurements. In some of these embodiments, before step (a), the user (i) compares the ear to a plurality of prototype measurement guides (e.g., nine such guides for nine different ear types) that contain directions on taking measurements; (ii) selects the best match of the ear to one of the plurality of prototype measurement guides; and (iii) takes the measurements of step (a) according to the prototype measurement guide selected. In some of these embodiments, a base component is fabricated and a setting is imposed in the fixture-plate and/or other components (e.g., ornamentation) is attached to the base component after it is fabricated. In some of these embodiments, after the earring is fabricated, adjustments to the components are performed to conform to the ear.

In other embodiments of this invention, certain methods of making (e.g., fitting components to an ear) of earrings and/or earring components (e.g., an earring base component) to an individual ear using Five EVD measurements comprise (a) obtaining at least two photographs of the ear, wherein at at least one photograph is from the perspective of looking directly at the ear with a concha cavum pocket-depth probe of this invention in place; (b) identifying a plurality of registration points on the photographs; (c) deriving the Five EVD measurements from the registration points; and (d) fabricating (e.g., creating, forming, or adjusting a pre-formed shape) the earring and/or earring component to conform to the Five EVD measurements. In some of these embodiments, a base component is fabricated by these steps and a fixture-plate and/or other components (e.g., ornamentation) is attached to the base component after it is fabricated. In some of these embodiments, after the earring is fabricated, adjustments to the components are performed to conform to the ear.

In other embodiments of this invention, certain methods of making (e.g., fitting components to an ear) of earrings and/or earring components (e.g., an earring base component) to an individual ear using Five EVD measurements comprise (a) obtaining at least two photographs of the ear, wherein at least one photograph is from the perspective of looking directly at the ear and at least one photograph is from the perspective of looking directly at the ear with a concha cavum pocket-depth probe of this invention in place; (b) matching (e.g., obtaining the best fit) the ear from one or more of the photographs to one of a plurality of templates and obtaining an estimate of the measurement of the concha cavum pocket-depth from the template; (c) detecting points on rail scales intersecting the antitragus ridge on at least one of the photographs to find the antitragus ridge decline slope with respect to vertical, estimated (e.g., using a bubble leveler) from the image; (d) detecting points on one or more of the photographs corresponding to the (i) antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (ii) ear length below antitragus ridge, and (iii) ear lobule height; (e) obtaining Five EVD measurements from steps (b) through (d); and (f) fabricating (e.g., creating, forming, or adjusting a pre-formed shape) the earring and/or earring component to conform to the Five EVD measurements. In some of these embodiments, a base component is fabricated by these steps and a plate and/or other components (e.g., ornamentation) is attached to the base component after it is fabricated. In some of these embodiments, after the earring is fabricated, adjustments to the components are performed to conform to the ear.

A person of skill in the art will readily see that additional methods of fitting and making the earring and/or earring components can be applied. In addition, some of the aforementioned methods and steps of the methods can be combined to fit and make such earrings and/or earring components.

In certain of the embodiments of this invention, an earring device that displays ornamentation is provided. This earring device comprises a base that is capable of being mounted on an ear that has an antitragus peak rise and adjacent dips, a concha cavum cartilage, a rear eminence of the concha cavum cartilage, and an inner conchal cavum floor. The base comprises a first end on the front and a second end on the rear. The base also comprises (i) at least one fastener looped latch component on the first end, which is at least in part oriented on the front of the ear when the base is mounted, which comprises portions that reach up and over and simultaneously flank the ear's antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips, and which further comprises an end loop portion that extends to the depth of the inner conchal cavum floor and contacts it at more than one point; (ii) at least one rear component on the second end, which is at least in part oriented on the rear of the ear when the base is mounted, which comprises a rear-fitter member portion that contacts and spoons the rear eminence of the concha cavum cartilage at more than one point, and which when the base is mounted it has portions of the rear-fitter member portion that are superior, or higher, in plane than the height of the looped-latch component in front; (iii) said base when mounted on the ear is mounted onto the lower portion of the ear without using any piercing of the ear and without clamping onto the lobule of the ear; (iv) said base when mounted on the ear engages a thickness of concha cavum cartilage at the front and the rear of the ear using the at least one latch component and the at least one rear component. The frontal display location of the device also displays ornamentation that is attached to the base.

In certain of these embodiments, the base further comprises a rear hinge selected from the group consisting of a click-back hinge, a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure hinge, a sway-to-snap hinge connected to the lower rear lobule portion, another hinge construction, or their equivalents, and said rear hinge is posterior to and it engages and disposes the rear-fitter member portion. The base may also comprise a frontal-display fixture for attaching and displaying ornamentation, and the frontal-display fixture may comprise a plate, and a plate that comprises a center receiving socket for receiving decorative snap caps.

In certain of these embodiments, the latch component further comprises an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component, and on which ornamentation may be onboarded. In certain embodiments, the base frontal fixture further comprises a dangle slide-on adaptor that is disposed below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component and onto which décor may be onboarded. In other embodiments, the base frontal fixture further comprises a tube with an open-end that is disposed below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component and at the center of a frontal-display wire band, into which a bent pierced-post earring may be inserted.

In certain of these embodiments, the earring device is capable of displaying ornamentation that is attached to the base that weighs about 30 grams or more and the ornamentation may be selected from the group consisting of precious metals and/or gems. In some embodiments, the ornamentation is removable and replaceable with other ornamentation. In some of these embodiments, the base and/or the ornamentation, when the earring device is worn on the ear, covers portions of the lobule of the ear that have been damaged, altered, or are otherwise not preferable.

Certain of these embodiments may be made (e.g., fitting components to an ear) to fit an individual ear. One such method comprises fitting the base to the ear, the fitting the base to the ear comprising: (a) measuring at least five variable dimensions of the ear to obtain at least five measurements, wherein the five variable dimensions of the ear are (i) the concha cavum pocket-depth, (ii) the antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (iii) the antitragus ridge decline slope angle, (iv) the ear length below the antitragus ridge, and (v) the ear lobule height; and (b) fabricating and/or adjusting the base to match the at least five measurements.

In certain preferred embodiments of this method, the method further comprises (c) attaching ornamentation to the base, wherein the ornamentation is selected from the group consisting of precious metals and/or gems.

Another method of making (e.g., fitting components to an ear) earring devices that fit individual ears comprises fabricating individually grouped fit gauges of the base. The fabricating individually grouped fit gauges of the base comprises (a) measuring at least five ear-variable-dimensions of a population of potential and/or targeted wearers to obtain at least five measurements for each such wearer, wherein the five variable dimensions of the ear are (i) the concha cavum pocket-depth, (ii) the antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (iii) the antitragus ridge decline slope angle, (iv) the ear length below the antitragus ridge, and (v) the ear lobule height; (b) dividing the at least five measurements for each such wearer into groups that vary from one another by about 1 to about 3 millimeters for at least one of each of the five measurements; and (c) fabricating and/or adjusting bases that fit one or more of the groups of step (b).

In certain preferred embodiments of this method, the method further comprises a step (d) of adjusting the fabricated bases of step (c) to individual ears. The method may also further comprise (e) attaching ornamentation onto the base, wherein the ornamentation is selected from the group consisting of precious metals and/or gems, and wherein step (e) can be performed before or after step (d).

As used herein, the terms “ornamentation” or “adornment” is used to mean decoration; décor; paint; coloring; ornamentation; adornment; bejeweling; attaching gems and/or other things, such as precious metals; plating; embellishments; glass; plastic; cloth; feathers; other materials, other things used by jewelers and others for earring and other jewelry, etc., which may be mounted on one or more allocated fixture plates (e.g., attaching or adorning surfaces) at the front (e.g., middle front) of the earring base device, or elsewhere. This plate portion may be further developed into any shape and setting style, to include but not limited to: prong, pave, bezel, cluster, gypsy, channel, tension, cluster, and etoile jewelry settings and also baskets, gemstone stations, and all manner of gems in appropriate heads, cuts, and designs.

“Attaching” (or “adorning”) such ornamentation or adornment to a base may be by several methods taught explicitly herein and those known to a person of skill in the art, including without limitation, painting, enameling, plating, wiring, chained, tying, gluing, sliding on, fitting between prongs, welding, soldering, banding, magnets, setting, screwing, compression fitting, posts, spring clasps, other clasps, connectors, loops, onboarding existing or legacy ornamentation and/or jewelry, adaptors, convertors, embedding, etc., used individually or in combination with other such methods and materials and/or their equivalents. In addition, the base itself can be made to provide ornamentation (e.g., by painting, enameling, plating, or by choice of materials used to make the base, and other methods and materials and/or their equivalents). In certain preferred embodiments, an allocated fixture plate on the earring base is placed at the middle front of the fasten-on earring base device. These and other plate embodiments may be further developed into any shape and setting style, to include but not limited to: prong, pave, bezel, cluster, gypsy, channel, tension, cluster, and etoile jewelry settings and also baskets, gemstone stations, and all manner of gems in appropriate heads and designs. The attaching may be permanent and/or temporary. This may include having removable and exchangeable components that use one base for multiple pieces of ornamentation. This may also include ornamentation that is solidly fixed onto the base or other component of the earring, or it may be moveably fixed (e.g., spinning, waving, changing position, rising and falling, etc.).

Additional features and advantages of various embodiments will be set forth in part in the descriptions that follows, and in part will be apparent from the descriptions, or may be learned by practice of various embodiments. The objectives and other advantages of various embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.0A is a front view of a custom-fit ear-fastener base device with an intermediate paddle-shaped frontal display plate that is ready for setting fine jewelry, as shown on a left ear, illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the novel device and fit of this invention.

FIG. 1.0B is a front view of the custom-fit ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0A, shown as set with heavy fine jewelry at the intermediate frontal display plate, according to an exemplary embodiment of the novel device and fit of this invention.

FIG. 1.0C is a side view of the custom-fit ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0B, illustrating a rear hinging disposed with an extended fitter that spoons the cartilaginous eminence of the concha, according to an exemplary embodiment of the novel device and fit of this invention.

FIG. 1.0D is a rear view of the custom-fit intermediate ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0A, as shown on the rear of a left ear, with an extended fitter that diverges slightly toward, and spoons the rear eminence of the concha above a rear hinge.

FIG. 1.0E is a rear view of the custom-fit finished ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0B, shown as set w heavy fine-jewelry in front, illustrating the upper rear fitter that spoons the eminence of the concha in back, and leaves the ear lobule un-compressed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the novel front loop-fastening and rear hinging-with-fitter device and fit of this invention.

FIG. 2.0 is a side view of an exemplary ear-fastener base as shown with industry set heavy gems, as fastened onto a left ear, and showing the rear extended fitter as it spoons the eminence of the concha, revealing lobule free of compression.

FIG. 2.1 is a side view of the ear-fasteners base of FIG. 2.0 showing the addition of a matching “jacket” dangle that is slid on via a lowermost portion “adaptor” allowing onboard at bottom. The slide on portion of the adaptor features a safe wall at bottom for keeping the jacket dangle slid onto the adaptor in place.

FIG. 2.2 is a front view of FIG. 2.1 .

FIG. 2.3 is a rear view of FIG. 2.1 .

FIG. 3 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another preferred embodiment showing a right custom-fitted ladder-shaped ear-fastener base, displaying set-adornment, with a fixed lower add-on holder for onboarding additional décor, for a right ear.

FIG. 4 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another embodiment, unadorned, showing a right custom-fitted mid-circle-H-shaped ear-fastener base with a rear hinge and extended fitter shown closed. A silicone knob may be disposed at the mid-circle H into which a trimmed pierce-post earring may be inserted (not show). A large-backed studded pierced earring, may be inserted thru the lower-circle and a dangle or additional décor may be onboarded onto the fixed lower circular holder at bottom.

FIG. 5 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front and side view of another exemplary and preferred embodiment of the invention showing a right fitted ear-fastener lobe-lift base that lifts damaged and drooping gauged-hole lobules via a scoop, and covers damaged ear, with sample industry-set gems displayed, for a flat, not incline-sloping, right ear.

FIG. 5 .1ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view of a left ear-fastener base of FIG. 5.0 shown without sample industry fixed-set gems, for a right ear.

FIG. 5 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front and side view of another embodiment of the invention showing a left fitted ear-fastener lobe-lift base that lifts damaged gauged-hole lobules via a scoop, and covers damaged ear tissue, without sample industry-set gems displayed, for a flat, not incline-sloping, left ear.

FIG. 6.0 is a side view of another preferred embodiment showing a left custom-fitted ear-fastener base with a tube at the mid-point of the frontal display location into which a converted pierced-post-earring whose post, that has been bent downward, may be inserted.

FIG. 6 .1ABC are perspective views of a process of inserting a pierced earring with a post, from A to B to C, as the earring post is changed (i.e., bent) to insert the post in a left custom-fitted ear fastener base with a tube of FIG. 6.0 , shown with a sample converted post pierced earring as it is assembled. The left custom-fitted assembled ear-fastener base with a tube front into which a converted pierced earring has been inserted, displaying with a diverging “Y” shaped upper-front looped fastener and a preferred rear fitter, which extends upward to, and spoons, the eminence of the concha in rear.

FIG. 6 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of the assembled earring base of FIG. 6.1C.

FIG. 7 .0ABC is a top, perspective, and front view, respectively, of another embodiment of a base device, which is shaped like an “X” in front and with an extended back fitter reaching to the eminence of the concha. A bard provides ability to onboard dangles in front.

FIGS. 8.0 and 8.1 are embodiments that are available with slide on adapters. FIGS. 8.0 and 8.1 is an interior right and left perspective view of another preferred embodiment showing an unadorned Y-shaped frontal looped-fastener embodiment, both with upper fixed slide-on adaptor, and an inward toward lobule bent front band allowing dangling jewelry to flow straight downward. FIG. 8.0 shows an additional slide on adaptor at bottom and FIG. 8.1 shows a fixed loop adaptor at bottom.

FIG. 8 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of a base device with a frontal display band-plate set by industry with molds and heads holding 3 gems. And circular cargo onboard adaptor is fixed at bottom

FIG. 9.0 is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another preferred embodiment, unadorned, showing a left custom-fitted ear-fastener base with a preferred extended rear fitter above the rear hinge shown closed. An empty socket member is disposed at center of the frontal display plate, which is similar to a socket that is well known for use with receiving standard 20 millimeter decorative outer “snap jewelry”. Said snap jewelry has a mating out jutting backing called a snap-cap. The mating stud-backed snap jewelry snaps into said socket and is interchangeable with any of a number of different brand “snaps”.

FIG. 10.0 is a side, end, top and perspective view of an adaptor for attaching a clip-on earring. The engineered clip-on adaptor with circle-shaped openings allow user to fish the adaptor onto a fasten-on earring base with a novel clip-on-earring adaptor holder-wire feature. Said wire holder may present closed when not mounted with the adaptor and open when mounted with the adaptor. Removable adaptor is used to attach clip-on earrings that may be onboarded interchangeably.

FIG. 10.1AB is a perspective and, front view respectively of another preferred embodiment, adorned at the frontal plate with 3 gems (not included), showing a right custom-fitted ear-fastener base with a novel clip-on-earring adaptor holder-wire feature at bottom shown in the closed position. Said wire holder when opened will receive the adaptor of FIG. 10.0 .

FIG. 10 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively, which is a progression of FIG. 10.1 with clip-on earring adaptor included. FIG. 10.3 is a close-up of an embodiment with attaching wire tucked in closed position. FIG. 10 .4ABCD is progression of FIG. 10.2 with a clip-on earring inserted into the clip-on adapter as fully assembled with attaching wire untucked in open position.

FIG. 11.0 is a model for other jewelers to place their own settings on the paddle-shaped frontage (long rectangle with rounded corners) “plate”. This “fixture-plate” is what jewelers and others in the industry use to design the front with artistically placed gem settings that is then turned into finished jewelry.

FIG. 12.0 is a is a side view of another preferred embodiment showing a left custom-fitted ear-fastener base with a tube spanning the entire frontal display location into which a pin-brooch may be inserted. Some pins will have the clasp removed and stay in place via rubber lining inside the tube.

FIG. 13 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another preferred embodiment showing a left custom-fitted large hoop-shaped ear-fastener base, displaying with a diverging “Y” shaped upper-front looped fastener and a preferred rear fitter, which extends upward to, and spoons, the eminence of the concha in rear.

FIG. 14.0 depicts multiple fitter components that are interchangeable for the upper rear-fitting component of certain embodiments and examples of alternative versions of upper-rear-fitter components according to the invention.

FIG. 15 .0ABCDE are top, perspective, side, side, and side views respectively of base devices with alternative T socket embodiments at the frontal display location. The T socket mating members are also shown, either attached or separated from their slide in socket on the front of the base. The slide-in T socket allows décor to be slid-on and clicked into place via a top T clicking mechanism at will.

FIG. 16 .0ABCD are side, perspective, and close-up perspective views respectively of base devices with alternative T socket embodiments at the frontal display location. The T socket mating members are also shown, either attached or separated from their slide in socket on the front of the base. The slide-in T socket allows décor to be slid-on and clicked into place via a top T clicking mechanism at will.

FIG. 17 .0ABCD depicts four schematics of a novel hinge, referred to as a click back, that is located below the extended fitter that reaches up to spoon the eminence of the concha.

FIG. 17 .1ABCD depicts four schematics of a novel hinge from a different perspective from FIG. 17 .0ABCD, referred to as a click back, that is located below the extended fitter that reaches up to spoon the eminence of the concha.

FIG. 17.2 is a perspective view that depicts another component aspect of the click back hinge of FIG. 17.0 .

FIG. 17.3 is a side view that depicts yet another component aspect of the click back hinge of FIG. 17.0 .

FIG. 18.0 are different views of a novel “sway and snap” hinge that fits the high-rise rear fitter.

FIG. 19.0 depicts a stop gap hinge.

FIG. 20.0 depicts both the right rear dial-shaped eminence of the concha at the back of the human ear with the rear fitter above and having an extended arm atop said eminence of the concha which is a dented omega that spoons along and supports the device onto the ear.

FIG. 21.0 graphically depicts the process of measuring the five critical EVDs in terms of the upper and lower parameter values measured, including the definition of how they are measured such as the height of the antitragus dips to the lowest length of the lobules and the overall depth of the interior pocket of the conchal cavum behind the antitragal ridge.

FIG. 22.0 is a Manual Measurement Process Flow Chart of operations for measuring the Five Ear Variable Dimensions (EVDs) manually according to one sizing embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23.0 is a front, side and deployed view of a Concha Pocket Depth Probe implement with handle, vertical alignment rails, and leveler also used as a calibration device.

FIG. 24.0 depicts a method of measuring the degree of the declining slope toward the face of the center-point of antitragus's flanking dips, which may or may not differ in height, using a leveling protractor as an Antitragus Slope Measurement Tool.

FIG. 25.0 is a Photogrammetric-Based Measurement Flow Chart of operations for measuring the Five Ear Variable Dimensions (EVDs) according to another sizing embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26.0 is a Fully Automated Measurement Flow Chart of operations for measuring the Five Ear Variable Dimensions (EVDs) according to yet another sizing embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27.0 is an ear-fastener fulfillment Flow Chart showing processes of operations on a provider client device while connecting to the centralized Fit-Profile System data on a server, according to one size-and-fit embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28.0 uses a cumulative probability plot to demonstrate how increasing the degree to which EVDs are correlated to each other reduces the number of fit profiles needed to support a given percent of the population.

FIG. 28.1 uses a probability scatter plot to demonstrate the increased likelihood of receiving custom fit profiles with EVD measurements close to the EVD mean size for the most likely fit profiles that support 85 percent of the population.

FIG. 29.0 is a probability scatter plot demonstrating overlapping ear variable dimensions of the 100 most likely custom fit profiles used in fine jewelry casting.

FIG. 29.1 is a probability scatter plot demonstrating overlapping ear variable dimensions of the 100 most likely larger semi-custom fit-profile clusters used for mass-manufacturing.

FIG. 30.0 uses a cumulative probability plot to demonstrate how fewer semi-custom clusters can support a larger portion of the population than custom fit profiles.

FIG. 30.1 shows the predicted distribution of the number of each semi-custom profile cluster manufactured and demonstrates the use of the Fit Profile System operations center to collect order data from many geographically distributed retail sites while fulfilling these orders through a few manufacturing sites.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Currently, the jewelry industry's earring settings for adorning lower ears have been established and in practice for several generations. These legacy earring settings comprise pierce- and clip-on-based solutions that require remaking settings for each new pair. These legacy solutions pin décor starting at the center of the soft-tissue ear lobule's surface and flow downward. Both legacy solutions fail to exploit the entire ear lobule surface and also fail to exploit the declining, sloped, hard ridge of tissue above the lobule as a canvas for mounting décor. The cartilaginous ridge above the lobule includes the antitragus peak and its two flanking dips, hereinafter referred to as the “antitragal ridge” or “ridge”. The ridge serves as a declining sloped “curtain rod” from which the entire soft-tissue lobule hangs. The antitragal ridge also includes the lower-conchal-cavum's raised ridge-wall, behind which a hidden conchal cavum pocket exists.

In addition, legacy solutions lead to loss of value when precious metals cannot be reused and must be disposed, if a penetrating pierce-in or clip-on (aka clamp-on or compression) earring-base setting becomes, either no longer tolerable due to wearer discomfort, or no longer desirable due to changes in personal preferences.

Legacy solutions on a population-wide basis also fail to provide an earring-base setting upon which to place adornments that in aggregate mount significant weight levels upon relatively large areas of cartilage along multiple contact points front and back, and where said cartilage does not have significant nerve tissue. Instead, clip-on legacy solutions clamp or squeeze the high-nerve-ending, sensitive soft-fiber lobule tissues of each ear.

Currently, piercing, and clip-on earrings are not the safest or most effective settings upon which to bejewel ears with significantly heavy décor. All piercings present the potential health risk of infection, allergic reaction, and/or bloodborne diseases such as hepatitis B per Mayo Clinic. A piercing also can get caught and tear out accidentally. Additionally, pierced-ear backings, during infection, can become “sucked” into the swollen lobule soft tissue. Piercing the cartilage is particularly hazardous as it can become inflamed resulting in damage or deformity of the ear.

The presently disclosed innovative pierce-free earring-base device settings are novel because the devices are engineered to traverse both dips that flank the antitragus peak, simultaneously, while accommodating the differences in height of each dip due to the declining slope of the antitragal ridge itself, which provides further support to ergonomically balance the unexpected high weight-bearing capacity claimed. This unique feature enlarges the available area of design canvas, thus providing a larger design-palette upon which industry sets gems and jewelry, thereby providing a relatively large setting adornment workspace. Said larger canvas may be gem and jewelry adorned by industry, whether via fixed-set, or spring-clasped, or slid-on as add-on jewelries interchangeably retained.

Other solutions attempt to provide the visual experience of full lower-ear adornment via unseen penetrated soft lobules, but these solutions also are unable to meet industry needs because they include a hidden pierce-post behind the adorned jewelry setting's center laying atop the center of the front of the lobule. While the top and bottom of these adorned settings on these pierced-earring posts look like they are somewhat rounding the top of the antitragal ridge-wall or the bottom of lobule, these settings actually require the earlobes to be pierced at center point and include a penetrating post to hold the large and/or tall decorative fixed-set décor. These settings can create health- and aesthetic-problems over time as the weight added to the penetrating posts draw downward, putting pressure on the hole opening, which is a pressure area of approximately 3 square millimeters and potentially creating a cheese-slicer-like-cut or worse, a cleft lobe, “rabbit-ear” look that may require lobectomy.

It would also be desirable to have a pierce-free earring base that solves the problem of pierced-ear adornments affixed at the very tip of the earlobe due to naturally occurring, age-related earlobe elongation.

Other pierce-free solutions hang a simple open-gaping one-wire-banded hoop or oval shape around the lower ear that is not capable of onboarding, via fixed-set or interchangeable, significantly heavy adornment(s). In terms of sizing, at best these options scale in size with the overall size of the ear. But these solutions fail to meet industry needs due to the fact that ears come in all manner of shapes, curves, and dimensions, including varying cartilaginous apportions, and have wide variations in the metrics of individual-features such as height, width, breadth, depth of the interior conchae cavum (concha cave) pocket, varying overall feature dimensionalities, variable-alignments of the ear in juxtaposition to the head, and differences in the slope of the antitragal ridge in terms of a steep, standard, or low decline as the ridge is drawn at the top of the entire earlobe moving from the back of the head, or rear portion of said ridge forward toward the face. Without accommodating the aforementioned ear variable dimensions, these attempted solutions do not provide a configuration or dimensional profile that ergonomically accommodates, balances, and distributes significant adornment weight.

Currently lacking within the industry are solutions that can readily and easily be adapted on a widespread basis for providing chiral-engineered, pierce-free, fasten-on customized ear-wear base-setting devices, without and with jewelry-embedded mounted settings that bear significant jewelry-adornment weight(s) safely. Safety here is defined as safe to wearers' ear health in that no heavy-weight-bearing piercings are required. Safety also refers to potential health hazards due to infections from use of piercing guns, which are banned in some countries, and which are limited to single-disposable-use only in some U.S. states, and to yanking and pulling injuries.

The disclosed novel invention is an ergonomic approach to provision of chiral, no-squeeze, pierce-free fasten-on custom-fitted ear-wear apparel foundational device settings, based on exploiting computer processes that combine automation methods for fitting about 99 percent (or some other chosen range) of jewelry earring apparel wearers. Included in this disclosure is a computer system with self-perfecting profile-based fitting processes.

The ear-contact points, to which the most preferred earring base with hinging fastens in both the front and the back of the ear, are cartilaginous which does not have significant nerve tissue. As a result, the wearer may be unaware of, or have little awareness of, any sensation of bearing significant jewelry weight.

The sizing and fitting methodologies are disclosed. Certain of the preferred computer-implemented sizing and fitting methodologies convert a series of individually extracted critical ear-variable-dimensions (EVDs) into individually grouped fit gauges that then are mapped to any of tens of thousands of circumscribed fit profiles, thus enabling industry easily and efficiently to fabricate custom-fitted and semi-custom-fitted ergonomically designed devices; set the same with significantly weighted jewelry adornment(s); and deliver the same as finished. The same methodologies are used in fabrication of custom-fitted earpiece adornment covers that serve to stabilize hearing aids, pods, and/or buds worn in the ear (not shown).

The lack of a computerized sizing- and fitting-system, and hand-held sizing- and fitting implementation, leaves industry insufficiently able to provide accurately fitting componentry that is ergonomic, custom- and semi-custom-fitting, and safely able to bear weight levels of about 30 grams and greater onto each ear.

Thus, it would be desirable to have a computerized system with multiples processes that ensure population fit accuracy, which is disclosed herein. Without said functional methods, accommodating the seemingly unlimited variety of differently shaped lower ear curves, dimensions, and overall size metrics becomes logistically unmanageable for large scale fabrication, configuration, manufacturing and distribution.

Therefore, it is important to have a readily usable and accessible computer fit profile system that provides industry with an accurate means for ascertaining a complete and unique fit profile for each individual to within a precision fitting level of between about 1 and about 3 millimeters for each of the critical ear-variable dimensions associated with the device that when presented in whole custom fit about 99 percent (or some other chosen range) of the population of potential wearers.

Therefore, also disclosed, in addition to said device, is a computerized sizing and fitting process and program for determining the size requirements of wearers for fitting high-weight-bearing, chiral-engineered adorn-able ear-fastener devices, offering access to said program for exploitation to users, both wearer users and provider users, and for facilitating the exercise of those interactive options between all users.

Continuously updating anthropometrics-based parametric values from customer measurement provide data that also is used by the computer program to accurately issue feedback to users in the form of an assessment of fit availability, as it is an object of the invention to provide a means for sizing users with properly fitting devices to within a fine degree of accuracy. If the wearer's individual dimensions can be matched with an existing multi-dimensional fit-profile option to within the quality of accuracy standards specified, their fabrication for high-end custom fine jewelry or for a mid-end semi-custom fastener earring base can be immediately provided and fulfilled. If, on the other hand, their dimensions cannot be matched to an existing fit profile option, but meet criteria described herein, their custom-fit base is scheduled to be accommodated with a new device fit profile that meets the qualified accuracy standards as specified.

Therefore, there currently exists a need in the industry for a practical method to size, meaning measure, individual wearer's critical ear-variable dimensions (EVDs) and moreover also for a computer-implemented system that performs fitting processes that include automated self-perfecting fit profile-based custom- and semi-custom fitting processes. Further, there currently exists a need in the industry for a practical local method to measure individual wearer's critical ear-variable dimensions (EVDs) and a computer fit profile system with automated processes that correlate critical ear-variable dimension measurements into fit gauges. The processes then correlate the uniquely bespoke fit profiles with extensive sets of discrete fit options and selections.

The custom sizing methods, in some embodiments are based on use of novel hand-held fitting implements, basic tools of the trade, computer systems with processes, and photogrammetry, together ensure the accuracy of the fit of a pierce-free ear-fastener base device settings as ergonomically engaged when mounted on one or both lower ears in chiral fashion.

The computer fit-profile system is also configured to convert extracted ear-variable-dimensions into grouped fit gauges, which include data on the length, width, depth, breadth, and arcuate curve of outer and hidden inner individual ear components and to provide formed patterns that correlate to thousands of bespoke fit profiles.

Now addressing the problem of lack of functionality for balancing and distributing significant jewelry weight of legacy clip-on or pierce through earrings, the novel device in certain preferred embodiments concurrently presents, at the frontal display componentry, a steep double-banded upper bend-angled fastening mount shaped like a backward-bent clothoid loop. Said loop serves as a mounting latch that reaches up and over, and simultaneously flanks, the antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips. The sides of the mid area of the reverse-bent loop straddling over the two lower dips adjacent to, or flanking, the antitragus rise. Additionally, because the antitragus ridge (dip-rise-dip) itself moves at a decline, or downward slope, toward the face, the band at the back most often bends over the antitragus ridge at a higher point then that of the band at the front. The fitting methods disclosed accommodate the declining slope toward the face that determines, on most wearers, the extent of the greater height of the rear bent band unto that of the face-forward band.

Said double banding of the mid loop then repel down into the hidden lower conchal cavum's interior pocket, where the two bands connect forming the end of the loop via angles with a lower-bottom-connecting portion referred to as soft-spread-footing, which lies along the floor of the conchal pocket and serves as a balancing fulcrum. The length of the double bands of the looped latch, as repelling down the hidden conchal pocket, settle at the conchal floor, where they join the device's soft spread footing that is shaped like a curved bar. The fit of the depth of the individual wearers interior pocket is gauged to within about 2 millimeter of accuracy in length.

Custom- and semi-custom-sized attachable and detachable pierce-free chiral ear-fastener base devices, embellish-able by industry and individual, can be used as an alternative to conventional ear-piercing products that cause damage to soft lobe-tissue-fiber over time.

The novel computer-implemented systems with fit-profile gauging processes and hand-held-based implements further the ability of industry to accurately fit pierce-free ergonomic earring-base fastener device settings that bear weight for adorning jewelry onto lower ears.

Readily available hand-held proprietary ear-metric implements aid in sizing and fitting chiral pierce-free weight-bearing ear-fastener devices as tailored to individuals' specific shapes and sizes, for jewelers serving wearers, as a method to provide customized outfitting beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.

For these, and other health- and jewelry-fashion-related reasons, industry is supported with the addition of a pierce-free, chiral, fasten-on earring base setting for the multitude of adornment that is custom and/or semi-custom fitted using readily and easily available computer-implemented methods disclosed along with hand-held implements.

It should be understood that the quality standard for fit accuracy of between about 1 and about 3 mm for each of the individual critical ear-variable dimensions that comprise basic embodiments, in concert, create each individual wearers' fit gauge unit that is later correlated to a uniquely bespoke fit profile, and is integral to imparting the new and unexpected result of significant jewelry weight-bearing capacity produced. Each of the separate critical ear variable dimensions, as extracted and accommodated, and all said variables simultaneously grouped, together with hidden rear-ear diverging directionality, chiral engineering, rear non-lobule-contact hinging, and significant cartilage-contact points in the front (conchal pocket depth) and at the rear (eminence of the concha), constitute a novel, unobvious, and innovative approach and improvement to pierce-free earring base device settings and earwear apparel, to include ergonomically fit adorn-able pierce-free earring-base device settings and earpiece covers such as to stabilize as well as esthetically enhance hearing aids and audio sound buds.

A chiral ear-fastener single device and/or a chiral device set, which are mirror-image, non-interchangeable, devices for both an individual wearer's right and left ears simultaneously, are customizable at the frontal display jewelry placement location portion, which may be disposed as a fixture-plate, of the earring-base device setting, to be adorned by industry with embedded and/or interchangeable jewelry.

Industry adornment may include, but is not limited to, embedding light-to-heavy jewelry that is permanently affixed and/or interchangeably attached to the surfaces of ear fasteners without piercing. While there may be a multitude of variations in the “settings” and “embedded settings” of the frontal display and other portions and surfaces of ear fastener devices disclosed, it should be understood that the present disclosure of embodiments is to be considered as examples of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described.

Sizing a minimum of critical ear-variable dimensions into whole multi-dimensional “fit-profiles” is necessary to the provision of properly-fitting, ergonomic no-pressure fasten-on componentry specifications. Ear anatomy measurement metrics drive properly fitting ear-fastener dimensions and configurations such as component bend-angles, lengths, width, breadths, and thicknesses as well as ear-fastener base device style, number of bands on looped latches beyond the required minimum of two flanking the antitragus peak, hinge-motion range, and optional extender-length ranges, all of which enhance the provision of properly fitting ear-fasteners that effectively, securely and comfortably fit users' ears.

Therefore, there currently exists a need in the fine jeweler industry for a computer system with processes for selecting best-fitting profiles for mass fabrication and delivery of custom- and semi-custom ergonomic, pierce-free, weight bearing earwear apparel that encompasses earring apparel and earpiece apparel (hearing aid and pods/buds jewelry embellished stabilizing covers).

Certain of the Most Preferred Embodiments

Disclosed next are the basic, or core, components of certain of the most preferred embodiments that are contemplated, which are multi-part hinged and fastener-latched, custom-fitted embodiments. Preferred embodiments of the custom-fitted earring base device disclosed herein include, in the front, a double-banded fastener-latch shaped like a backward bent clothoid loop that flanks each individual ear's antitragus peak, and in back, said devices include hinging joined at the top with an extended lower armed, concave-shaped upper fitter that contacts and curves along the rear convex eminence of the concha. These preferred embodiments, which are fabricated of multiple parts, include either a rear low-pressure-hinge, a stop-gap hinge, a click-back hinge, or a sway-and-snap hinge, among other types of hinges and their equivalents. Said preferred device together with disclosed custom- and semi-custom-computer sizing and fitting methods as deployed serve the needs of industry for adorning significantly weighted jewelry onto the lower one-third of the ear, without piercing or clamping, effectively, safely, and securely.

Also disclosed herein are the associated computer-implemented sizing and fitting methodologies that convert a series of individually extracted critical ear-variable-dimensions (EVDs) into individually grouped fit gauges that then are mapped to any of tens of thousands of circumscribed fit profiles, thus enabling industry easily and efficiently to fabricate custom-fitted and semi-custom-fitted ergonomically designed devices; set the same with weighted jewelry adornment(s); and deliver the same as finished.

All ear-fastener device settings disclosed are chiral in design, meaning not interchangeable between left and right ears. Also disclosed are the same as sets, meaning that a set comprises both a single chiral device for a right ear and a single chiral device for a left ear, wherein the two devices together are mirror images of one another, but not interchangeable with one another.

The ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing fasten-on earring base fulfills the needs of industry via inclusion of a blank fixture-plate portion at the middle of the frontal display componentry, which is a jewelry placement location site. At the design stage, the plate at the middle of the front of the device is industry-customizable such that industry adorns the base device setting with embedded fixed-set gems and jewelry weighing up to and more than 30 grams each ear. Other embodiments provide portions that include fixed or removable adaptors for onboarding add-on and take-off interchangeable jewelry.

Hereinafter ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing earring-base device settings will be referred to interchangeably as an earring “base”, “ear-fastener-bases”, “ear-fastener-base-devices”, “ear-fastener-base-device settings”, “ear-fastener-base settings”, “ear-fasteners”, “fasten-on earring base”, “fasten-on earring base device”, “fasten-on earring base device setting”, “fasten-ons”, and/or the brand referred to as FASCINEARS™.

Disclosed below are the required structural specifications for implementing the most preferred embodiments of this invention of custom-fitted ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing earring-base device settings upon which industry may fix-set, or interchangeably affix, adornments with weight levels of up to and greater than about 30 grams each ear safely and securely, without penetrating or clamping ear lobules.

Critical aspects and mechanical functionality of the invention's most preferred contemplated embodiments is a multi-sub-component embodiment that, at the most basic level and iteration, is made up of nine core portions. Certain of these preferred embodiments of the disclosed invention require rear hinging that is either: the hidden rear low-pressure hinge, stopgap hinge, click-back hinge, or sway-and-snap hinge. Said hinging joins a relatively long-armed upper rear fitter, which contacts, curves, and cups the cartilaginous eminence of the concha above the rear lobule. This most preferred embodiments of the device also comprises, at the front componentry, the multi-portion upper fastener looped latch that itself has sub-component portions.

All embodiments have front components and rear components. The front components have sub-components. The rear components have sub-components. Nine core portions within their sub-components together comprise the basic portions of the invention's preferred multi-part embodiments as described below.

All embodiments are fabricated of multiple parts that include either a rear low-pressure-hinge, stop-gap hinge, click-back hinge, or sway-and-snap hinge, or whether versions fabricated of one-piece material, have key ear-contact-point elemental portions that engage at the ear's critical front cartilage location and the ear's critical rear cartilage location as specified.

The nine core portions of certain of the most preferred embodiments, are listed below and divided between the front componentry and the rear componentry:

At the front of the device, the upper fastener-latch sub-component, shaped like a backward bent clothoid loop, comprises:

1) The first portion of the fastener latch subcomponent is two bands diverging upward from the top of the front of the device. This portion forms the Y-shaped nexus of the clothoid loop. The bands continue to bend upward toward the antitragus ridge along the sides of the clothoid loop to where they are nearly parallel. 2) The second portion of the fastener latch is the double-latching band's bends at the points where the double-bands start to bend backward over the antitragus ridge and said double-bands continue bending downward and slightly toward each other as they reach downward to the bottom or floor of the conchal pocket. Because the antitragus ridge runs at a downward angle, or slope, toward the face, the band at the back bends over the antitragus ridge at a higher point then the band at the front. 3) The third portion of the fastener latch is soft-spread footing that joins with the bands on both ends at the bottom of the conchal pocket to form the tightly curved portion of the clothoid loop nearly opposite its nexus point. The curved soft-spread footing rests at the curved bottom of the conchal pocket. Said footing portion comprises the key ear-contact-point elemental portion in front. Said footing's curved shape distributes and balances the weight of the device.

At the front of the device, the middle sub-component, when fabricated of high-end-material that is fine jewelry precious metals, comprises:

1) The portion that is the entire frontal area facing viewers, made up of a blank plate that is disposed between the upper and lower sub-components of the front componentry of the entire device. Said plate is used by industry to augment and impose preferred jewelry setting designs, including gem prongs, for embedding light-to-heavy gems and jewelry that later are permanently fixed set into the setting, and therefore the base device, itself. Said portion also may comprise simple non-adorned banded configurations and/or may include fixed or non-fixed elemental adaptor sub-portions.

At the front of the device, the middle sub-component, when fabricated of mid-end-material that is qualified metals and/or low-end-materials that are qualified plastics, comprise:

1) The portion that is the entire frontal area facing viewers, comprising a simple wire-banded configuration. Said banded configuration may include a fixed adaptor elemental portion in which add-on and take-off, interchangeably attached jewelry, may be “onboarded” to the “frontal display componentry” surfaces of the ear fastener base as mounted onto the ear without piercing. On other said embodiments, frontal banding, which may be plate-flattened, may be used by industry to augment and impose preferred jewelry setting designs, including gem-setting openings and/or prongs, for embedding compatible gems and jewelry that later are permanently fixed set into the setting, and therefore the base device, itself.

At the front of the device, the lower sub-component, comprises:

1) The lower-most portion of the entire device that curves while extending from the front to the back of the device at the lowermost end of the device where the device clears the longest point of an individuals' lobule as determined via the sizing and fitting methods disclosed herein. Said lowermost curved portion is seamless in most embodiments and may be disposed with a seamless open and close mechanism portion in others. Said mechanism is disposed with a near invisible hinged closure point.

At the rear of the device, non-adorn-able sub-components, comprise:

1) a hidden-from-view lower rear-lobule portion that joins with entire device's front-to-back lowermost portion at its lower end. At its upper end, or top, the lower-rear-lobule portion, on preferred multi-component hinged embodiments, join with one of the rear hinging portions described below.

Said lower-rear-lobule portion, alternatively, will join directly to an upper fitter portion described below in one-piece-material embodiments.

2a) a hidden-from-view un-adorned rear sub-component portion at about the middle of the rear componentry behind the rear lobule that comprises a lower sub-portion of either a low-pressure hinge, a lower sub-portion of a stopgap hinge, a lower sub-portion of a click-back hinge, or a lower sub-portion of a sway-and-snap hinge. Said stopgap hinging shuts such that a more fixed opening exists between the entire device's front componentry's fastener looped latch footing at the floor of the conchal pocket, in between which is sandwiched a thickness of conchal cavum hard tissue and skin. All hinging options disclosed join with the rear componentry's upper “fitter” portion describe below. 2b) alternatively, in other embodiments made of one-piece, a hidden-from-view un-adorned rear sub-component portion extends seamlessly and near-vertically behind the rear lobule as it connects at its lower end with the entire device's lowermost portion that runs from front to back. At its upper end, seamlessly, said portion joins with a convex-curving fitter portion above as described below. The location of said portion is at the middle of the rear componentry behind the rear soft-tissue lobule. 3) A rear-fitter portion (disposed at the upper end of the backside of the device) that may make contact with 3 ear wearer contact points: the skin over the skull and neck area adjacent to the convex-curved, vertically long, eminence of the concha; eminence of the concha outer area itself; and the south inception of the eminence of the conch immediately above the soft-tissue rear upper-lobule.

The inception of the ear's eminence of the concha, at its w south end, is joined and located directly above where the soft rear lobule tissue ends.

Regarding the opening between the rear componentry's upper “fitter” portion and the sub-component portion in front that is the conchal-pocket footing, said opening, whether multi-component or one-piece fabrication, may stay at a constant opening of as little as about 2.5 mm for some wearers. It should be noted that the opening size is not one-size-fits-all, but instead is based on sizing and fitting methodology results per disclosed processes.

More critically, while the opening in devices made of one piece or with a stopgap hinge may be as relatively small as about 2.5 mm depending upon an individual fit profile as ascertained via deployment of the disclosed sizing and fitting method, limits associated with said opening also are defined by the amount of pressure imposed on a thickness of the concha cavum wall, which is preferred to be no more than about 24,516 Pascals of pressure, but in no embodiment will be more than about 32,361 Pascals of pressure.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered as examples of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific earring-base device setting of only the specific embodiments shown and described.

The heavily weighted adornment(s) born by pierce-free ergonomic lower-ear-fastener device settings comprise 1) jewelry that is fixed-set by fine jewelry brands, local jewelers and/or their designers, manufacturers, and fashion jewelry-makers, 2) jewelry that is retained via embodiments with permanently fixed upper or lower adaptor elements, or “cargo” embodiments, capable of onboarding jewelry décor and accessories. In one upper adaptor embodiment, said add-on jewelry is slid onto the discrete adaptor portion of said fixed adaptors such that the jewelry flows over the entire ridge and lobule; and 3) jewelry that is onboarded and off-boarded interchangeably via removably connected spring-clasp joiners or via small circular joints that slide-onto open-ended adaptors that aid in connecting traditional-earrings that have been adapted by wearers or jewelers to be onboarded. Said jump clips and joiners are also are interchangeably applied to base device(s) and their fixed adaptors by wearer(s) and/or jewelry providers.

More specifically, the core components of certain of the most preferred embodiments comprise multi-part hinged embodiments that are connected and inter-related as follows:

-   -   A fastening looped latch sub-component that itself has multiple         portions including bend-angles and looped fastener-latch bands         whose arms repel down into the hidden conchal pocket at a         customized depth of the inner conchal cavum floor, wherein said         depth(s) are determined by the disclosed automated sizing and         fitting methods.     -   A jewelry setting placement location site portion at the front         componentry, which is represented by an allocated fixture, such         as a plate at the middle front of the fasten-on earring base         device. This fixture-plate portion may be further developed by         industry into any shape and setting style, to include but not         limited to: prong, pave, bezel, cluster, gypsy, channel,         tension, cluster, and etoile jewelry settings and also baskets,         gemstone stations, and all manner of gems in appropriate heads         and designs.     -   The fixture-plate allocating jewelry setting display placement         is atop the middle of the frontal display portion, which is         connected to the upper front top looped fastening latch         sub-componentry of the earring base. Said plate is connected at         bottom to the earring base device's lowermost component, which         moves about face, clears the lowermost longest lobule tissue         length, and joins with rear componentry portions. Said         frontal-display adornment allocation plate, when set with         industry jewelry, is capable of safely and securely carrying         embedded fixed- and/or interchangeable jewelry adornments at         weight levels up to and greater than 30 grams per ear.     -   A curved entire device lowermost bottom portion runs under and         clears the longest tissue of an individual's lobule from front         to back (about face) and is disposed at the lower end of the         frontal-jewelry-placement display location plate sub-component         of the front componentry as the device is vertically emplaced,         or elevated, standing up in its deployed position when donned by         a wearer. This entire device lower-most curving component moves         about face from front to back and joins an unseen lower         rear-lobule portion that is part of the rear componentry. At         this juncture, at the rear componentry, the rear-lobe lowermost         portion, in certain preferred embodiments, seamlessly, and         alternately, connect to either a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure         hinge, a click-back hinge or a sway-to-snap hinge, all depending         on the specific material forming the specific device as outlined         in the section entitled Certain of the Most Preferred         Embodiments. The stopgap hinge, along with other preferred         hinges, serves to snuggly fit rear portions of the device         against the eminence of the concha and possibly skull and neck         areas, while allowing the wearer to comfortably mount the device         into place.     -   An open-ended, rear eminence of the concha contacting,         rear-fitter portion is disposed at the end of the hinging         portion. Said fitter may be any one of a multitude of         interchangeable fitter shape options. The relatively long-armed         rear fitter portion, at its lower end, joins with the rear-stop         gap hinge, low-pressure hinge, click-back hinge, or sway-to-snap         hinge. At least one eminence of the concha cupping or “spoon         laying” rear fitter portion is present in all embodiments, at         the top of which constitutes the rear fitter-ended portion of         the rear componentry. Said rear-fitters disposed at the top of         rear componentry itself may have three contact abutments: an         abutment that makes contact with skin over the back-of-ear's         skull and/or neck area; an engaging abutment above the upper         rear-earlobe; and always the abutment with the rear-ear's convex         eminence of the concha. These abutments result from the         multitude of ergonomic fitter options of various shapes and         sizes, and on some embodiments said fitters are interchangeable.

Rear-fitter configurations disposed above the rear hinging portion come in a multitude of shapes described further in the section entitled Certain of the Most Preferred Embodiments. Rear upper fitters are shown in limited number in FIG. 14 .

All recited alternate rear fitter options may come with cut out versions to save on costs of precious metals as well as other metals and materials including qualified stainless steels, titanium's, brass alloys, and plastics. Said upper rear-fitter backing components may alternatively be apportioned with choices of alternative shapes and sizes both permanently fixed as chosen at time of manufacture and/or via screw on screw off mechanisms, and or interchangeable interface with the stopgap and other hinges and other hinge options. The multitude of rear-fitter alternative shapes and sizes further serve the myriad differences of size, shape, and dimensionalities of individual ears.

At the front component of the earring base device setting, the upper fastener-latch sub-component, which is shaped like a backward bent clothoid loop, itself has key portions that are interconnected:

-   -   Soft-spread-footing is a curved-bar shaped portion disposed at         the end of backward bent clothoid loop fastener-latch         configuration. The upper fastening-latch that starts at the top         of front display section with bands that diverge in an upper “Y”         shape, has the appearance of a curved bar formed into a clothoid         loop that bends back over the antitragus with the top of the         loop then resting down to the floor of the conchal pocket, as         gauged via the sizing methods deployed. The top of the clothoid         loop resting at the bottom of the conchal pocket is referred to         here as the soft-spread footing. The curved bar-shaped         end-footing portion disposed at the lower end of the fastening         latch, engages with the floor of the conchal pocket when ear         mounted, and flanking the center rise of, the ear's antitragal         ridge. A minimum of two bands, meaning a double-banded about         90-degree flattened-apexed bend-angle that has a median lower         latch-opening width of about 11 millimeters with a standard         deviation of plus or minus about 4 millimeters. At the far end         of said double-banded, or parallel bands of the looped latch,         the earring base device's soft-spread footing is disposed and         connected at its ends with the sides of said loop, meaning the         sides of the looped fastener-latch. Said latch bands rappel over         the antitragal ridge-wall, and down into the hidden conchal         pocket where the soft-spread footing nestles onto the “conchal         basin” floor at the bottom of the conchal pocket. The         soft-spread footing runs like a curved bar at the floor of the         conchal pocket, providing a balancing fulcrum, and is sized         according to the disclosed fitting methods.     -   The inside flattened apex of the upper looped fastening-latch's         inner bend-angle is at an about 45-degree to about 75-degree         inner bend-angle and widens at the opposite, open,         fastener-latch portion, to a preferred approximately         11-millimeters between the latch's hidden soft-spread footing         end and the visible adjacent portion about 11 mm away,         constituting the latch opening. A typical ear's antitragus         presents a “shelf” that is variously about 3-to-5-millimeters         deep (front to back) depending upon age, which is found at the         top of the ear-antitragus's high-point as well as its two         adjacent or flanking dips. Therefore, the inner side of the apex         of all device fasteners are by necessity flattened, and not         sharp inverted V-shaped as with the vertex of a triangle.     -   The underside of the flattened apex of the upper bend-angled         portion of each of the minimum of two top-fastener latch band(s)         are defined as comprising preferably a 45-to-75 degree inner         angle, and said interior angle must be bent at the very least,         less at the interior than a right angle such that the apex of         said angle is implemented, or positionally disposed, as a         softened inner curve that may extend horizontally over the         antitragal ridge by about 4 millimeters.     -   Said flattened inner curve of the double-banded looped         fastener-latch whose bands flank the antitragus peak is upper         bend-angled and engaged-mounted onto the antitragal ridge where         the latch's soft spread footing contacts the floor of the         conchal pocket providing further weight-bearing stability and a         balancing fulcrum. The conchal pocket floor beneath skin is         cartilaginous, which does not have significant nerve endings.

Examples of preferred embodiments that illustrate certain of the aspects of this invention are found in the drawings. FIG. 1.0A is an embodiment of a custom-fit ear-fastener base device 5 with an intermediate paddle-shaped frontal display plate 10 that is ready for setting fine jewelry. FIG. 1.0B is an embodiment of the custom-fit ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0A, shown as set with heavy fine-jewelry 15 at the frontal display plate 10 (not visible in this view). FIG. 1.0C is a side view of the custom-fit ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0B, illustrating a rear hinging 20 disposed with an extended fitter 25 that spoons the cartilaginous eminence of the concha 27. FIG. 1.0D is a rear view of the custom-fit ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0A, as shown on the rear of a left ear, with an extended fitter 25 that spoons the rear eminence of the concha 27 above a rear hinge 20. FIG. 1.0E is a rear view of the custom-fit finished ear-fastener base of FIG. 1.0B, shown as set with heavy fine jewelry 15 in front, illustrating the upper rear fitter 25 that spoons the eminence of the concha 27 in back, and leaves the ear lobule 30 un-compressed.

FIG. 2.0 is a side view of an exemplary ear-fastener base 5 as shown with set heavy gems 16, as fastened onto a left ear, and showing the rear extended fitter 25 as it spoons the eminence of the concha 27, revealing the lobule 30 free of compression. FIG. 2.1 is a side view of view of the ear-fasteners base of FIG. 2.0 showing the addition of a matching “adaptor” 50 that onboards at bottom. The adaptor 50 slide on portion features a safe wall at bottom for keeping the adaptor in place. FIG. 2.2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.0 . FIG. 2.3 is a back view of FIG. 2.1 .

FIG. 3 .0ABCD are different views of another preferred embodiment showing a right custom-fitted ladder-shaped ear-fastener base 60, displaying industry-set-adornment 65, with a fixed lower add-on holder for onboarding additional décor 70, for a right ear.

FIG. 4 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another embodiment, unadorned, showing a right custom-fitted mid-circle-H-shaped ear-fastener base 75 with a rear hinge 20 and extended fitter 25 shown closed. A large-backed studded pierced earring, trimmed, may be inserted thru the lower-circle 77 and a dangle or additional décor may be onboarded onto the fixed lower circular holder 79 at bottom.

FIG. 5 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front and side view of another exemplary and preferred embodiment of the invention showing a right fitted ear-fastener lobe-lift base 80 that lifts damaged gauged-hole lobules via a scoop, and covers damaged ear, with sample-set gems displayed, for a flat, not incline-sloping, right ear. FIG. 5 .1ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view of a left ear-fastener base 80 of FIG. 5.0 shown without sample industry fixed-set gems, for a right ear.

FIG. 5 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front and side view of another embodiment of the invention showing a left fitted ear-fastener lobe-lift base 80 that lifts damaged gauged-hole lobules via a scoop, and covers damaged ear tissue, without sample industry-set gems displayed, for a flat, not incline-sloping, left ear.

FIG. 6.0 is a side view of another preferred embodiment showing a left custom-fitted ear-fastener base 5 with a tube 90 at the mid-point of the frontal display location into which a converted pierced earring whose post, that has been bent downward, may be inserted.

FIG. 6 .1ABC are perspective views of a process of inserting a pierced earring with a post, from A to B to C, into the left ear-fastener base 5 of FIG. 6.0 , shown with a sample converted post pierced earring 95 as it is assembled. The left custom-fitted assembled ear-fastener base with a tube 90 front into which the converted (i.e., bent) pierced earring 95 has been inserted is displayed with a diverging “Y” shaped upper-front looped fastener 100 and a preferred rear fitter 25, which extends upward to, and spoons, the eminence of the concha in rear.

FIG. 6 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of an alternative ear-fastener base 5 with a sample converted earring 105 as assembled.

FIG. 7 .0ABC is a top, perspective, and front view, respectively, of another embodiment of a base device 110, which is shaped like an “X” in front and with an extended back fitter 25 reaching to the eminence of the concha. A bard 115 provides ability to onboard dangles.

FIGS. 8.0 and 8.1 are embodiments that are available for slide on adapters. FIGS. 8.0 and 8.1 are an interior right and a left perspective view of another preferred embodiment showing an unadorned Y-shaped frontal looped-fastener embodiment 120, both with an upper fixed slide-on adaptor 125. FIG. 8.0 shows an additional slide on adaptor 130 at bottom and FIG. 8.1 shows a fixed loop adaptor 135 at bottom. FIG. 8 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of a base device 5 with a frontal display band-plate 140 with industry set molds heads holding 3 gems 145.

FIG. 9.0 is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another preferred embodiment, unadorned, showing a left custom-fitted ear-fastener base 5 with a preferred extended rear fitter 25 above the rear hinge 20 shown closed. An empty socket member 150 is disposed at center of the frontal display plate, which is similar to a socket that is well known for use with receiving standard 20 millimeter decorative outer “snap jewelry”. Said snap jewelry has a mating out jutting backing called a snap-cap. The mating stud-backed snap jewelry snaps into said socket and is interchangeable with any of a number of different brand “snaps”.

FIG. 10 .0ABCD is a side, end, top and perspective view, respectively, of an adaptor 155 for attaching a clip-on earring. The engineered clip-on adaptor 155 with circle-shaped openings allow user to fish the adaptor onto a fasten-on earring base with a novel clip-on-earring adaptor holder-wire feature. Said wire holder may present closed when not mounted with the adaptor and open when mounted with the adaptor. Removable adaptor 155 is used to attach clip-on earrings that may be onboarded interchangeably. FIG. 10.1AB is perspective and front view respectively of another preferred embodiment, unadorned at the frontal plate 160 with 3 gems (not included), showing a right custom-fitted ear-fastener base with a novel clip-on-earring adaptor holder-wire feature 165 at bottom shown in the closed position. Said wire holder 165 when opened will receive the adaptor of FIG. 10.0 . FIG. 10 .2ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively, which is a progression of FIG. 10.1 with clip-on earring adaptor included. FIG. 10.3 is a close-up of an embodiment with attaching wire 165 tucked in closed position. FIG. 10 .4ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively, which is a progression of FIG. 10.2 with a clip-on earring 170 inserted into the clip-on adapter as fully assembled with attaching wire untucked in open position.

FIG. 11.0 is a model for other jewelers to place their own settings on the paddle-shaped frontage (long rectangle with rounded corners) “plate” 160. This “plate” 160 is what jewelers and others in the industry will use to design the front with artistically placed gem settings that is turned into finished jewelry.

FIG. 12.0 is a is a side view of another preferred embodiment showing a left custom-fitted ear-fastener base 5 with a tube 90 spanning the entire frontal display location into which a pin-brooch may be inserted. Some pins will have the clasp removed and stay in place via rubber lining inside the tube.

FIG. 13 .0ABCD is a top, perspective, front, and side view respectively of another preferred embodiment showing a left custom-fitted large hoop-shaped ear-fastener base 175, displaying with a diverging “Y” shaped upper-front looped fastener 177 and a preferred rear fitter 180, which extends upward to, and spoons, the eminence of the concha in rear.

FIG. 14 depicts multiple fitter components 26 thereof that are interchangeable for the upper rear-fitting component 26 of certain embodiments and examples of alternative versions of upper-rear-fitter components 26 a. through 26 g. according to the invention. Also shown is one embodiment of a female/male screw in mechanism 185 used to make the rear fitter components interchangeable. Alternative upper-rear-fitter components 26 may be chosen at time of manufacture or may be alternated via a screw on, screw off capability at the connected lower rear-lobe component in which a female/portion join at the top of said rear-lobe component in which the two may be screwed apart and put back together and/or replaced with an alternate upper rear-fitter component. The plurality of alternating disposable fittings options at the upper rear-fitting component may increase the number to skin-contact points.

FIG. 15ABCDE are top, perspective, side, side, and side views respectively of base devices with alternative T socket embodiments at the frontal display location. The T socket mating members 195 are also shown, either attached or separated from their slide in socket on the front of the base 190. The slide-in T socket allows décor to be slid-on and clicked into place via a top T clicking mechanism at will. FIG. 16ABCD are side, perspective, and close-up perspective views respectively of base devices with additional alternative T socket embodiments at the frontal display location. The T socket mating members 195 are also shown, either attached or separated from their slide in socket on the front of the base 190. The slide-in T socket allows décor to be slid-on and clicked into place via a top T clicking mechanism (or other mechanism) at will.

FIG. 17 .0ABCD depicts four schematics of a novel hinge 20, referred to as a click back, that is located below the extended fitter 25 that reaches up to spoon the eminence of the concha.

FIG. 17 .1ABCD depicts four schematics of a novel hinge 20 from a different perspective from FIG. 17 .0ABCD, referred to as a click back, that is located below the extended fitter 25 that reaches up to spoon the eminence of the concha. FIG. 17.2 is a perspective view that depicts another aspect of an embodiment of a hinge component. FIG. 17.3 is a schematic of an embodiment of a hinge component.

FIG. 18.0 is a drawing of various views of sway and snap hinges 20 that fit the high-rise rear fitter. FIG. 19.0 is a drawing of various views that depict a stop gap hinge 20.

FIG. 20.0 is a drawing of the right rear dial-shaped eminence of the concha 35 at the back of the human ear with the rear fitter 25 of an earring device of this invention having an extended arm atop which is a dented omega that spoons along and supports the device onto the ear.

Also Disclosed Herein are the Custom Sizing and Fitting Methods.

Five alternative sizing methods include: novel automated, novel semi-automated, both novel- and trade-hand-held sizing implements, a photogrammetric-based method, and a combination of automated and photogrammetric-based.

The sizing method specifically extracts critical ear-variable-dimensions (EVDs) of each individual wearer, which results in metric data on the length, widths, decline slope, depth, breadth, and line and arcuate curving of outer and hidden-inner key individual ear variable dimensions. The extracted individual metric data next are entered into a different fitting computer-implemented system whose processes group the EVD data metric sets. The individual's set group at this stage of processing is then referred to as an ear fit gauge. The processes then allocate the fit gauge to a matched circumscribed fit profile within the system from among tens of thousands of circumscribed profiles, thus serving about 99 percent (or other chosen range) of the potential wearing population.

Accurately measured ear-variable dimensions, which are the set of critical metrics of the lower half of the ear, are acquired via the sizing methods disclosed. Said metrics as extracted via deployment of the sizing methods underly the design and engineering of the customization of said devices, which is critical to the functionality resulting in the ability of the novel devices securely to stay onto the ear after mounting, while bearing significant jewelry weight.

Both the sizing and the fitting computer-implemented methods are integral to the scope of the invention's functionality safely and effectively to bear relatively high levels of jewelry weights in comparison to legacy solutions. Safely in this context means that the value of embedded fixed-set gems is safe from loss of value, and that the wearer is safe from damage to soft and hard ear tissues.

The novel computer-implemented systems with processes, which may include photogrammetry, together provide alternatives for sizing ear to ensure the accuracy of the fit of a pierce-free ear-fastener base device as ergonomically engaged when mounted on one or both lower ears in chiral fashion.

Novel Computer-Implemented Fitting Systems and Processes

The custom- and/or semi-custom sizing-and-fitting computer system with processes function to group ear variable dimensions into sets of fit gauges that then are correlated to any of thousands of unique circumscribed fit-profiles. Said fitting system with processes herein are referred to as the “computer system with self-perfecting profile-based fitting processes”, “computer perfect profile fitting system”, “CPPF system”, “fit profile system”, or the “perfect profile system”.

In certain preferred embodiments, the computer system also is configured to interact with extracted EVD data acquired for entering into the semi-custom size-and-fit methods in which a multitude of individual circumscribed fit-profiles generated are selected from for correlating with the population of potential individual wearers.

In other sizing- and fitting-embodiments, the computer system with processes use the fit-profiles generated from EVD metric data to provide further customizable profiles where statistical extremes, or outliers, may present.

The fit profiles are defined and configured in accordance with fit accuracy standards, limitations, and qualifications that ensure the functionality of the disclosed novel devices fitting the scale of the mass population.

The automated computer systems' processes yield engineered and designed earring base fastening device settings that are configured as sized to individuals' critical ear-variable dimension shapes, curves, and sizes. The critical ear-variable dimensions, which as a set are an intermediate step in the computer system's fit-gauge processes, can be measured by either a fine jeweler or fashion jeweler, equipped with training and both the herein disclosed novel implement and trade tools, and through photogrammetry, permissioned images taken of the ear in concert while integrating use of said novel implement.

All devices are customized to fit individually by way of deploying the custom- and/or semi-custom sizing and fitting processes disclosed herein. Semi-custom fitting computer methods are directly applicable to embodiments that are made of materials that lend themselves to mass factory manufacturing processes. Hinged cargo-model embodiments, for example, that do not accept set gems or jewelry, may be manufactured from a set of circumscribed fit profiles serving about 85 percent of some wearer populations, as an example. Said embodiments may be made, for example, of health grade, hypoallergenic stainless steel or brass alloys as outlined in the section entitled Most Preferred Embodiments, and as used by the industry.

Device embodiments may have one or more of the following optional features:

Some embodiments by way of utilizing the sizing and fitting methodologies disclosed herein enable fabrication of custom-sized and -fitted earpiece adornment covers that stabilize buds worn in the ear.

Some embodiments may include a hidden rear-rotating cuffed extender wherein the cuff is referred to as a turnbuckle. Said optional feature element optimizes fitting efficiency for ears that present with lobule lengths that fall within an extreme outlier column. The optional turnbuckle extender raises or lowers the rear fitter that cups the eminence of the concha. Regarding the location of the turnbuckle: The entire device lower-most curving component that moves about face from front to back underneath the ear lobule joins an unseen lower rear-lobule portion that is part of the rear componentry. At this juncture, at the rear componentry, the rear-lobe lowermost portion may alternately connect to a telescoping turnbuckle style extender, however. critically, these embodiments must include a safety open and close mechanism at the lowermost portion of the device located beneath the ear lobule.

In yet another complete embodiment's unique-feature set, existing post-pierce-earrings are soldered onto the pierce-free chiral-engineered ear-fastener device(s), where the rear portion of extended post is cut off, thus permanently converting the post-stud earring into a non-penetrating product. Currently, rudimentary adaptors exist that are attached to the bottom of pierce or clip-on earrings, thus the solution and objective to adorn ears without penetrating or clamping is not achieved.

Legacy pierced earring jewelry, and/or post-pierced earring jewelry that have been slightly modified may connect with embodiments that have any of three types of fixed adaptor either directly or via use of small additional open-and-close connectors referred to as “spring clasps”. These fixed adaptor embodiments altogether safely onboard total jewelry weight levels up to and greater than 30 grams per ear safely, effectively, and securely.

Additional permanent and interchangeable structural components and accessory components that enable the addition and/or removably connected add-on gem and jewelry to the core invention include:

(1) a permanently affixed clip-on earring adaptor allowing attachment of standard clip-on earrings, similar to that described in #2 below. Each said converting adaptor supplies a means for inserting and removing myriad clip-on earring jewelry that is compatible with said permanently installed adapter. It should be noted that said compatible clip-on earrings are placed in the opposite direction from the directional approach utilized when said clip on earring is mounted to an ear lobule, meaning the adaptor receives the clip-on backing of the clip-on earring as inserted into the adaptor upside down.

(2) the adaptor described in (1) above, but with connecting mechanisms for removing said adaptor from the ear-fastener base itself. Said adaptor may be connected to a base with double-banding at bottom, such as the Ex model embodiment, via spring clasps, and/or proprietary connectors and/or loops. Said adaptor is described in FIG. 7 and interchangeably provides for onboarding existing legacy clip on earrings without clamping or squeezing the earlobe. Each said converting adaptor supplies a means for inserting myriad clip-on earrings that are adaptor compatible upside down without clamping or squeezing ear lobules.

(3a) a permanently affixed converting-adapter that is “slide on” style at top of the specific cargo model embodiment(s) that enable interchangeably sliding and onboarding existing post-pierce or wire-pierce earrings that have been modified such that the pierce post or pierce wire have been removed wherein an opening is left at the top of said décor. Said opening is used to easily slide the modified legacy earring(s) onto the fasten-on earring base via the slide-on adaptor. In addition, any décor, such as dangling earrings so modified may be slipped onto the slide adaptor at the very top of the fasten-on earring base itself. Legacy earring posts or wires may be removed by jewelers, artisans, and/or wearers with appropriate tools. Each permanently affixed onboarding converting adaptor supplies a means for onboarding myriad removable décor including compatible earring jewelry that has been disconnected from its original post-pierce or wire-pierce setting. This onboarding furthers the sustainability of the ear-fastener cargo model embodiment device.

(3b and 3c) permanently affixed converting-adapter at the middle and bottom of the device that, unlike the adaptor of 3a require a connector such as a spring clasp to connect add-on décor to said adaptor. In one embodiment, the adaptor is a bar-shaped portion added below the middle of a model shaped like an Ex in the front. In another embodiment, the adaptor comprises a loop at the bottom lowermost portion of the overall device.

(4) A post pierced earring adaptor may also be accomplished by using for example a tabletop laser welder or torch used by a jeweler. This permanently attaches an altered pierced earring onto the ear fastener base device at the jeweler's chosen location. The method involves inserting the post through the ear-fastener base's fixed set adaptor, permanently cutting the remaining post extension on the back side, and soldering for a final result in which both the setting device and modified pierce-post earring become a renewed, permanently fixed-set result.

(5) Removable adaptor parts may also include ear-fastener “skirts” and “jackets” or “adaptors” that are attached and unattached to the frontal display componentry via, for example, flat shallow screws with tiny rear bolts, snaps (with male and female componentry mechanisms), clasps, magnets (both attracting sides), and a multitude of types of fasteners.

(6) a removably connected converting-adapter that interchangeably onboards existing post-pierce earrings that have not been permanently modified. Each said converting adaptor supplies a means for inserting myriad removable post-pierced earring jewelry, and/or post-pierced earring jewelry connected with other jewelry items (often referred to as an earring “jackets” or “adaptors”) via additional connectors and/or converting adaptors, that altogether safely and securely onboard jewelry weight levels up to and greater than 30 grams per ear. The difference between #4 and #3 is that #4 describes an adaptor for post-pierce earrings that can be removed and replaced with other traditional post-pierced earrings.

(7) a removably connected converting-adapter that interchangeably onboards existing wire-pierce earrings. Each said converting adaptor supplies a means for inserting myriad removable wire-pierced earring jewelry, and/or wire-pierced earring jewelry connected with other jewelry items via additional connectors and/or converting adaptors, that altogether safely and securely onboard jewelry at weight levels up to and greater than 30 grams per ear. Each of these converter-adapters provide a means for inserting and removing jewelry by means of a variety of removable spring clasps, screws, nuts, washers, connectors, adapters, and converters embodiments.

(8) a locking, or snap mechanism attached to or combined with rear hinging to inhibit movement of the opening as a key indispensable opening and closing element of the rear hinging sub-component. See sway-and-snap hinge Figure.

(9) embodiments allowing for installation of screw-on art at the central lobule area via a hidden capped hole that receives screw adaptors at the center of, and embedded into, the device. This will be done using a wide variety of novel and standard screws, washers, nuts, snap and/or other connecting components.

(10a) For some embodiments, such as the “ex” model (pronounced “X”) embodiment described in FIG. 7 , the device(s) may have a decorative very short, small jewelry screws at center of the EX with a short flat securing bolt on the other side. Said screw is removable, such that “skirts” and “jackets” or “adaptors” may be slid onto the screw post, which in turn is reinserted into the middle of the EX, secured in the back, rendering the device capable of carrying add-on jewelry in an alternative manner. Similar concepts are illustrated in FIG. 16 .

(10b) An additional object of the invention is to provide a means for adding adornments such as skirt- and jacket-fronts or adaptor-fronts whose underside is disposed with a female receiver opening part, that receives said small jewelry screw into, and through the threaded hole within a location on an embodiment base, such as the X frontal-display component, whereby both the screw, and the adornment's threaded hole, together sandwich said skirt or jacket or adaptor accessory between the ear-fastener Base frame, the frontal display. From front to back, this sandwich would include decorative screw head, skirt or jacket or adaptor, frontal display, and threaded hole at the very back. This allows a wearer to don the ear-fastener plain, and/or with a decorative cap covering said hole in place, or with said decorative screw cap removed, and in back of cap an add-on décor is threaded onto the back of said screw, such that not only skirts and jackets or adaptors, but also themed and other décor is added, such as long-horns prior to attending rodeo, then the couple is threaded through the device's opening and screw nut tightened onto the device in the back of the device. After said procedure, the device with alternate frontal-display décor is ready to wear in pierce-free fashion.

(11) Some embodiments may have links pinned together such that portions of the entire length of the ear-fastener device may be adjusted longer or shorter by a jeweler for further customization.

It is also contemplated that for future use, wearers will benefit from augmented reality try-on technologies as applied providing users digital try-on experiences. Remote measurement capabilities can also be applied in the processes of fitting individual ears described herein.

Methods for Sizing and Fitting

While the present novel invention is directed at said fasten-on earring base device setting, the methods for sizing and custom-fitting the same on a population-wide scale are integral to the invention and said methods are disclosed in complete version herein. FIG. 21 indicates where and generally how measurements are taken for EVD1 through EVD5.

With respect to the device, it should be noted that the level of fit accuracy of between about 1 and about 3 mm for all critical ear-variable dimensions, in concert, is integral to imparting the unexpected result of significant jewelry weight-bearing capacity produced.

The core elements, sub-components and portions of the device include cartilage-contact points at both the front (conchal pocket depth via soft-spread footing) and rear (convex eminence of the concha via concave fitter above hinging). Additionally, in the front, a double-banded fastener-latch shaped like a backward bent clothoid loop that flanks each individual ear's antitragus peak; chiral “like gloves” engineering; a rear-fitter sub-component portion at the topmost point of the rear componentry, which joins with rear hinging; a hidden lower rear-ear portion that joins with upper rear-ear portions whose direction slightly diverges directionally from frontal portion direction; individual conchal-pocket depth accommodation; antitragus-ridge dip-to-dip width accommodation; antitragus ridge slope accommodation; length below tragus accommodation; lobule height in front and rear accommodation; thickness of a wall of concha cavum below the antitragal ridge accommodation; and eminence of the concha width accommodation.

The device fastens widely across the top of, and specifically flanks both sides of, the antitragus's cartilaginous rise where one exists. Behind the ear, the setting fastens alongside the cartilaginous area above the rear of the earlobe referred to as the “eminence of the concha”.

In implementation, the depth of the conchal cavum pocket is individually accommodated such that the portion of the earring base that nestles along a swath of the floor of the hidden conchal pocket fits to within about 1 to about 2 millimeters of accuracy from among 12 discrete device lengths that match 12 distinct conchal pocket depths (thus forming a balanced interior-pocket fulcrum).

In implementation, the width between the two dips flanking the center antitragus rise is individually accommodated to within about 1 to about 2 mm accuracy among 18 about 7 to about 25 mm metric positions.

In implementation, the depth of the conchal cavum pocket is individually accommodated such that the portion of the earring base that nestles along a swath of the floor of the interior conchal pocket fits to within about 1 to about 2 millimeters of accuracy.

In implementation, the degree of slope of the antitragal ridge's descent, from higher in back to lower toward the face, is accommodated and accounted via a specific EVD measurement extracted from between about 0° and about 90°. Said degreed slope is converted via sine to a metric difference of between about 0 and about 15 millimeters. Said descending slope is accommodated in that the two upper bent bands of the looped fastener latch are not always the same height, unless the individual ear being accommodate has a flat, or level, antitragus ridge. The rear latch band may bend over the antitragal ridge up to about 15 millimeters higher than the upper bent band at toward the front of the face.

In implementation, the vertical length from the antitragal ridge to the longest most lobule tissue plumb downward, is accommodated, such that the lower-most portion of the custom-fitted device clears the lower lobule but does not extend unduly beyond the lobule.

In implementation, all embodiments as contemplated in the most preferred embodiments will include rear hinging whose pivotal engagement is hidden behind individuals' rear soft-tissue lobule, and whose upper is disposed with any of a multitude of elongated concave fitters that reach upward and high enough to contact and curve alongside the convex cartilaginous tissue of the eminence of the concha.

In the front of some embodiments, an upper fixed adaptor accepts converted legacy earrings that flow down the entire frontal display area including the entire front of the ear lobule. In the front of some embodiments, a magnetic iron core may fix compatible onboarded interchangeable flowing décor from moving right and left during wear.

In the front of other embodiments, an ample decorative plate, some magnetized, provide cover for gauged-hole ears without penetration, or accept compatible snap-in decor. In still other embodiments formed of health-grade stainless steel (SS), or hypo-allergenic SS plated over copper, an embedded petite telescoping cuff extender may be allocated behind the soft tissue of the rear-lobule above the lowest rear portion of the earring base, which lengthens or shortens the slightly divergently bent upper-rear fitter curving alongside and cupping the eminence of the concha above the rear earlobe. These embodiments safely open and close via an opening and closing mechanism below the ear lobule.

One Piece Embodiments of the Base

Embodiments made of one piece differ from certain of the more preferred hinged embodiments. More specifically, the core components and portions of devices made of one piece are different from multi-component devices in that they are connected and inter-related as follows:

-   -   An open-ended, rear eminence of the concha contacting,         rear-fitter portion is disposed at the end of the rear-lobe         componentry in one-piece earring bases. Said fitter is any one         of a multitude of fitter shape options in the scope of those         disclosed.     -   The non-adorning lower rear-lobe portion seamlessly connects to         the device's lower-most portion at its that runs underneath the         lobule at its lower end. The mid rear lobule portion meets the         convex “dial-shaped” curve of the rear eminence of the concha.         At this junction, the concave rear fitters described in         multi-component preferred embodiments are disposed.     -   The non-adorning lower rear-lobe portion seamlessly connects to         the entire device lower-most portion that runs underneath the         lobule from front to back. The lower rear-lobe portion itself         will include a diverging directionality at the transition of the         lower-most component to the rear-lobe component in embodiments         made of one piece and said divergence is required in earring         base settings that are made of one piece and/or do not comprise         hinging, but comprise the bendability and shore strength levels         specified below.

Embodiments that are not outfitted with a rear hinging portion and that are made of one-piece, are by necessity, made of materials that either have enough bendability to be bent back into original form after minor stretching such as with gold, silver and their alloys and qualified brass alloys, but are not limited to said metals and their alloys as follows.

In implementation, one-piece ear-fasteners also may be made with materials that have memory to shape back into original form after minor bending and/or that have lower shear strength than gold, silver and/or their alloys and/or lower shear strength than qualified brass alloys. In implementation, the shape memory elemental feature may be accomplished via use of solid or coated beta and/or pure titanium in medical health grades, all comprising the critical hypoallergenic features of nickel and lead free. Coatings may be accomplished by depositing a coating of gold, other compatible metals, alloys, composites, and/or other materials, onto the said titanium(s) by way of plating processes. The elements of lightness, relatively high yield strength, high tensile strength, ability to bend while hard, and durability of titanium alloys and titanium gold, or Ti—Au or Au—Ti, are highly desirable for use in pierce-free ear-fastener base device settings. In other implementations, the shape memory metal element may be accomplished, by non-limiting example, by use of titanium and titanium alloys marketed under the trade name EXCELLENCETITAN, Z TITANIUM, and/or TITANIUM PERFECTION by CHARMANT USA Inc. of Morris Plains, N.J., USA.

All devices made of one piece include a diverging directionality, which is a “bend,” that changes the direction of the frontal-facing componentry unto the direction of the rear-facing componentry. From a head on view (as facing a wearer) the portion moving from underneath the earlobe to behind the earlobe will bend towards the eminence of the concha, while moving upward alongside the length of the rear lobule. At the junction of the rear lobule and the eminence of the concha, the lower rear fitter joins the lower rear portion. The entire rear concave fitter cups the convex eminence of the concha as do rear fitters on multi-part devices.

Restated differently, when the device is on a wearer who is facing north, the frontal-jewelry-display portion faces east from the head on a right ear and west from the head on a left ear. However, at the rear or lowermost componentry of the right- and left-ear devices, in contrast, a diverging bend is allocated such that the rear componentry changes direction and faces north, meaning forward toward the rear eminence of the concha. Said change in direction allows the device efficiently to spread and balance weight more evenly throughout the entire device and for the device's rear end fitter to cup, or “spoon”, the rear eminence of the concha, which requires the rear fitter to face north.

The simplest embodiment made of one-piece material includes in its most basic form the same custom-fit two-banded upper fastening loop as disclosed for the multi-part devices, which are allocated at the top of the front componentry of the device. Said one-piece material embodiment is required to include the diverging bend disclosed above. Said diverging bend is located, as the device is elevated, or upright, while mounted on its assigned chiral ear, at either the lowermost portion underneath the ear lobule, or behind the rear lobule, or at the inception of the rear fitter. More specifically, the diverging-bend preferably occurs where the lower-most component meets the rear-lobe component or where the rear-lobe component meets the upper-rear-fitter components or may be a portion of the rear-fitter component.

Fitter contact points at the posterior of the ear must include points along the convexly curved eminence of the concha. The neck area adjacent to the upper rear-lobule forms a depression on some wearers that often is shaped like an upside-down triangle. While this area may be skimmed by rear componentry and/or portions, said contacts are not key to the functionality of safety and securely mounting significant jewelry weight onto the lower one third of the ear in the rear.

-   -   A non-adorning rear-lobe portion is seamlessly connected to the         curved entire device lower-most portion that runs underneath the         lobule from front to back. The rear-lobe portion itself may         include a diverging bend at the transition of the lower-most         component to the rear-lobe component and said diverging bend is         required in earring base settings that are made of one piece         and/or do not comprise hinging, but comprise the bendability and         shore strength levels specified below.

Ear-fastener base setting devices made of one piece are fabricated with materials that include stretch, shape memory, and/or include the ability to reform shape after minimal bending, or materials that retain shape after being repositioned to original form after being stretched or bent. Said materials may include metal(s) and/or qualified plastics as specified herein. If an embodiment is made from one material, fabrication must include stretch such that the device springs back into place after stretching or will retain shape after being stretched out and placed back to original form.

In implementation, no portion of an embodiment, when fabricated out of qualified titanium has an elastic modulus greater than about 125 GPa. The elastic modulus of other metals and/or their alloys used in the manufacture of one-piece embodiments are at least 55 GPa to retain form. In implementation, any embodiment made of in plastics are fabricated of pure, uncontaminated material and no portion of the embodiment has an Ultimate Tensile Strength greater than 46 megapascal (MPa).

Additional Features of Certain Preferred Embodiments

The more preferred embodiments include either a low-pressure hinge, a stopgap hinge, or a sway-to-snap closure hinge.

All of the most complete embodiment versions of the device have both the core front cartilage and core rear cartilage contact points, and all nine core portions as follows:

1) An obscured Soft-Spread-Footing portion serves as an end-portion that nestles down onto the interior floor of the ear's conchal “basin” floor, referred to as the conchal pocket floor. At either end of the Soft Spread Footing disposed are the minimum of two-latch bands of the clothoid loop that flank the antitragus rise (see 2 below) as they curve up and over the antitragal ridge. It is noted that the number of bands that comprise the top-bend-angle of each device's upper fastener latch sub-component at the bend angle portion is not limited. In addition to the basic double-banded fastening latch portion, said banding may alternatively comprise a plurality of three or more bands and may be configured to either straddle the antitragal ridge's central high point (rise or peak) by parting, meaning diverging to either side of the AT ridge, or the plurality of banding may at center encircle said antitragal ridge's central high point lasso style while disposing multiple bands at the flanking side dips outward. Still further said plurality of banding may rise at center to accommodate the rise of the antitragus ridge peak.

It also should be noted that implementation of the invention's custom- and/or semi-custom sizing-and-fitting methods further ensure the accuracy of the fit of the pierce-free ear-fastener device as ergonomically engaged with one or both lower ears after installed. The Soft-Spread-Footing's hidden portion is adjacent an opening inside of which is sandwiched the human ear's concha cavum interior. The other side of the said conchal cavum sandwich is at the rear of the ear, specifically at the outer convex-curved cartilaginous eminence of the concha.

2) A Bend-Angled, Double-Banded Top Fastener Latch sub-component that begins, and is disposed at, the upper end of the device's frontal-display and/or jewelry placement location subcomponent. Said latch is shaped like a bent angled about-faced clothoid loop.

Said double bands curve and bend angle toward and over the AT Ridge and those bends are shaped to follow the form of an obtuse top-angled isosceles triangles. Starting at the top, or softened apex, of the inner side of said triangle-shaped bends, moving from front to back along the antitragal ridge, the fasten itself is sandwiched between two equal-length extending-band portions: one end joins with the said front-display portion, and the other end joins with said soft-spread-footing portion. The side of the bend extending away from the softened apex descends, or repels, down into the interior of the conchal-basin, preferably settling on the bottom of the conchal-basin, which is made possible via the computer perfect fit-profile system. The inner side of each of the two bands of the fastener is preferably bent-angled back toward the start of the outside of the fasten as defined by the acute apex angle over a range of between about 45-degrees and 75-degrees, and at an average of about 55 degrees.

It should be understood that in implementation of all embodiments, the fastener's double-banded bend-angles do not project as a simple cantilever or form a simple right angle that cantilevers over the antitragal ridge. Similarly, in implementations, no portion of the front fastener-latch that is integral to installing the device onto an ear has an inner bend-angle less than a right angle or about 89.99 degrees.

Each double-banded bend-angled fastener-latch portion, as disposed on a single banded or jewelry placement plate at the frontal jewelry setting display component, on a single device, is itself interconnected with major tangible portions and one intangible portion:

a) The width of the distance between the top ends of two parallel “arms”, of the isosceles triangle formed by the bend into the concha cavum is between 7 millimeters and 25 millimeters as determined via the perfect profile computer fitting system.

b) The double banded bent-angles' upper-triangular apex is softened, or slightly flattened, rather than pointed like a vertex, such that the depth of the bend at the top apex of the bend-angle may extend over about 4 millimeters straightening the bands into plane that holds the curve into the shape of the soft-spread footing. Said softened apex is disposed at the portion of the fasten that curves over the antitragus, which for a simple single-banded frontal display setting will include the double-banded split Y-top-shape in which both bands become parallel at the point where they flank, meaning remain adjacent to, any peak in the middle of the antitragal ridge referred to as an antitragus rise.

c) The degree of the inner bend-angles is always more acute than a right angle, and is preferably between about 45 degrees and about 75 degrees. Said double banded bend-angled-fastener components curve over the top of the antitragal ridge at its inner, downward-bending-angle side where it joins with the soft-spread-footing curved-bar shaped portion, which nestles along the bottom of the conchal-basin floor.

3) A jewelry setting placement location portion of the frontal-display componentry for each device is either: a) unadorned, meaning the device's base-frame material is exposed and comprises simple finished product; b) to be adorned with fixed-set or studded gems and jewelry, and or otherwise embellished via surface and/or hanging decorative treatments by industry; c) adorned with interchangeable décor; or d) both b and c. Each earring-base device setting's gem and jewelry placement location portion of each frontal-display componentry may be adorned, fixed-set and/or implemented with a multitude of decorative variations, serving both the fine-jewelry and fashion-jewelry sectors of industry.

4) A Lower-Most component that curves about-face to the rear of the device from front to back and joins with a lower rear-lobe component at the back of the ear. In some embodiments, particularly those without a hinge, as moving toward the rear of the ear, the lower-most end component forms a diverging bend in joining with said rear-lobe component. Said diverging bend changes the direction of the bend curve from front to back such that the rear-lobe components turns to face forward with the face of the wearer. This means that the rear-lobe components of embodiments with said diverging bend turns such that they face to the front of the head. The diverging bend imparts three-dimensionality to the device, and aids in distributing a fully adorned device's weight across a greater area over the device to maintain a more vertical orientation than a flat circular curve would allow.

5) A lower rear-lobe portion of the earring-base's rear componentry that clears the turn below the ear lobule and joins with the a hinging above. The lower rear-lobe portion is hidden behind the rear of the ear lobule, and also may alternatively join with a sex bolt cuff portion used to extend the reach of rear portion of device behind the ear.

6) A stop-gap hinge with long-neck joining rear fitter (7) described below that is disposed at and onto the lower rear-lobe portion. Said stop-gap hinge is allocated behind the rear lobule, but does not necessarily touch the rear lobule. The top of said stop-gap hinge is attached to an end fitter as described in core componentry portion number 7 below. The end of the long neck of the stop-gap hinge ends at the anatomical intersection of where the top of the soft-rear lobule tissue hangs, like a curtain, from the lower end of the elliptical, or dial shaped curve of the cartilaginous variable of the ear referred to as the eminence of the concha, which is at the mid-point of the rear of the ear. The first basic low-pressure hinge provides a secure closure that is moderate, neither tight nor squeezing, in its fastening function, or grip. The second, a stopgap hinge, leaves a fixed opening that is gentle to cartilage sandwiched in between via its low pressure opening, but still provides the secure hold required to keep the device onto the ear while bearing significant jewelry weight levels. For fine jewelry fabricated via casting methods, the hinge includes a yoke, rivet and dented Omega-shaped rear “fitter” that curves along the eminence of the concha. The components are soldered and provide comfortable as well as secure installment of the device onto the ear.

7) An upper rear-fitter portion of the device's rear componentry is disposed at the top end of the device's rear componentry. This upper rear-fitting component itself, may alternatively, via a variety of interchangeable upper rear-fittings, be replaced by disengaging the component and attaching another.

The upper rear-fitting portion joins with the stop-gap hinge below, and said hinge snaps shut leaving an opening that is fixed between the two major components, which are the frontal components and the rear components: the fastener's frontal soft-spread-footing recited in #1 above and the rear-fitting component herein recited in #7, both of which face one another as bracing with the sandwiched ear's cartilaginous hard concha tissue, referred to as the conchal basin on the frontal side, and the eminence of the concha on the rear side. The rear fitter, which spoons the rear ear's eminence of the concha, comprise one side (the rear side) of a sandwich with a middle that is a section of the concha cavum. The fitter at the top of rear hinge and rear component at large specifically makes key contact with, and spoons, the convex cartilaginous curve of the rear eminence of the concha.

When the ear-fastener is engaged, meaning installed onto the correctly assigned ear, a stopgap hinge, in its closed position, will impart a fixed opening that is held at a constant size, thus the ear is not squeezed. The size of the fixed opening is predicated via differences in ear-variable dimensions as determined by deployment of the custom- and/or semi-custom sizing and fitting systems, processes, and methods disclosed.

More critically, while the opening gap in devices fabricated either of one piece or of multiple parts that include a stop-gap hinge, may be as small as about 2.5 millimeters thick, plus or minus about 0.4 millimeters thickness, said opening gap may have size-related differences that are narrower or wider by between plus or minus about 14 percent respectively based on EVD measurement results.

Moreover, said gap size also is predicated by the amount of pressure imposed on a single thickness of the concha cavum wall. In implementation, the most favored preferred type of embodiment contemplated is that no portion of the pierce-free weight-bearing custom-fitted earring base imposes pressure onto the ear greater than about 24,516 Pascals. In implementation, no portion of pierce-free weight-bearing custom-fitted earring bases impose pressure onto ears greater than about 32,361 Pascals.

In addition, the relatively small opening gap sizing also is predicated upon the stretchiness of qualified metals specified in ear-fastener earring base devices made of one piece and the ear-contact pressure limitations as defined herein. In addition to above-stated opening gap sizing, a device made of one-piece, with its elemental diverging directional feature from front to back in conjunction with specified fabrication materials provide enough “stretchy” elasticity to allow the wearer to mount the device setting onto the ear through a relatively small stretchable opening without breaching the ear pressure imposition limitations specified.

The soft-spread-footing's hidden interior front contact portion is adjacent to an open gap inside which is sandwiched a single thickness of the human ear's concha cavum wall. On the opposite side of the single thickness of concha-cavum wall, at the convex curve of the rear outer eminence of the concha, is the device's rear upper fitter sub-component. Said gap is joined end-to-end by the device's front, lowermost, and rear sub-components.

Said diverging bend spreads and balances jewelry-adornment weight across the entire device, versus weight born via a single contact point.

1) Soft-spread-footing is a portion that is shaped like a curved bar and is disposed at the end of double-banded clothoid loop configuration. The curved-bar shaped end-footing portion is disposed at the lower end of the fastening latch, which nestles along the floor of the conchal pocket when fastened onto, and flanking the center rise of, the ear's antitragal ridge.

In addition, the front of the device specifically makes key contact with the interior cartilaginous conchal pocket floor, also referred to as the floor of the conchal basin, providing the device with the functionality of allowing the device to spread and sufficiently balance relatively high-jewelry-weight levels including up to and greater than about 30 grams upon each ear over the entire device. The cartilaginous contact points below skin at the front and rear of the device do not have significant nerve endings.

The Soft-Spread-Footing portion is shaped like a curved bar that is disposed at the end of a minimum of two legs, or “bands” attached on either side of said bar-shaped footing. The footing is custom sized to sit on the floor of the conchal pocket, where said footing acts as a fulcrum balancing and spreading weight and pressure points across the device and floor of the pocket;

2) A double-banded fastener-latch, wherein said looped latch always presents with a minimum of two near parallel bands that curve over the antitragal ridge wherein each of the two bands straddle the high point rise of the antitragus peak. Both bands, as they flank the mid-point of the two dips on either side of the AT peak, are bent as they curve over the cartilaginous ridge, preferably at a about 45-degree to about 75-degree bend angle. The inner-angle side of the bend angles present as softened-apexes of the double band. The double-banded fastener-latch makes contact with the AT ridge at the upper inner portion of the bend-angles in said fastener-latch component of the device; and 3) A custom sized slope wherein the rear bent-angled band of each double-banded fastener-latch, in most devices, is higher than the band that is closest to the face.

Ear-fasteners may be worn as fixed-jewelry-set adorned base-frames. Said ear-fasteners, when fixed-set with gems and/or jewelry, are further developed by jewelers, manufacturers and/or other businesses by building up the jewelry placement location plate with the setting infrastructure for gems and/or jewelry. The setter then bejewels, embeds, and/or studs said settings with any number and style of planned jewelry material, including gems (precious, semi-precious and fashion) and any other compatible embellishment. Said fixed-set embellishments may weigh up to and greater than about 30 grams weight each ear. Industry adornment may include, but is not limited to, embedding fixed-set light-to-heavy gems and jewelry at the middle plate sub-component of the front component. A multitude of fixed-set gems, jewelry, and/or other décor may be embedded, meaning fixed set, into said earring base devices by industry yielding finished permanently jewelry set ear-fastener earring product(s).

Ear-fasteners may be worn as fixed-jewelry-set adorned base-frames, but said may also further be adorned with additional interchangeable décor onboarded. It should be understood that the aggregate weight-bearing capacity of about 30 grams each ear includes both the weight of the fixed-set jewelry and the weight of the interchangeably onboarded jewelry as total weight.

Ergonomic pierce-free ear-fasteners devices may present, meaning be worn, as simple unadorned bases, much like band- or wire-based earrings, not requiring or set with additional decor. Embodiments that are fixed-set with gems and jewelry, however, may include a permanently fixed adaptor element at either the top, the bottom, or both the top and the bottom. Said adaptor element may be used to adorn the base setting with interchangeable décor onboarded by sliding said décor and/or jewelry onto the device without need for additional “spring clasps” parts for connecting add-on jewelry to the base itself.

Also in the most complete and complex version, the device may have, instead of two clothoid loop shaped fastener-latch bands flanking the antitragus in the custom-fit fashion, more than two bands may be disposed at the upper fastener latch. The middle band of said multiple bands may have an encircling accommodation for lassoing the antitragus peak, where said multiple bands, once scaled the summit of the antitragal ridge, over the lower-concha ridge-wall top make up the core inner bend-angled fasten componentry, which itself may span approximately 4 millimeters at the antitragal-ridge shelf, which then connects to the soft-spread-footing below.

Alternative upper rear-fitter backing components comprise a multitude of options providing best choices of shapes and sizes. The multitude of different upper-rear fitting sizes, shapes, and dimensionalities further serve the multitude of different shapes and sizes of individual ears.

Said configurations may be shaped, but are not limited in shape, to rear-fitter configurations that include, but are not limited to, fittings shaped like a reversed “P” (where the inside loop of the “P” faces the head), a concave dome, a polygon, a 3D triangle, a 2D triangle, a half moon, a hammerhead shark head with and without suction cups on both skull sides of right chiral-design and left chiral-design, half hammerhead shark head, a fish tail, a wale tail, half wale tail, a fish fin, a half fish fin, a ridge, a bullet, a mushroom, a mushroom head, a spiral, a heart, a bird foot, a reversed (upside down triangle), a moon, a half or quarter moon, a G-Clef, an oval, a smile, and inverted-smile, circle w concave smile, a circular pad w ridges, a bent bird foot, bent bird feet, soft clear pad with protruding nub for insertion through a loop, any alphabet letters such as “S” and “K”, an anvil shape, suction cups w a concave smile facing the convex eminence of the concha, soft pads and suction cups of any shapes and sizes, and 3D shapes that contact 3 skin points at back of ear, such as origami shapes, above the rear upper lobule where the eminence of the concha is adjacent to abutting skin that covers neck and skull locations.

Alternative upper-rear-fitter backing components may be chosen at time of manufacture or may be alternated via a screw on, screw off capability at the connected lower rear-lobe component in which a female portion is disposed at the short end of said fitter that receives a male portion at the top of said rear-lobe component in which the two may be screwed apart and put back on and/or replaced with an alternate upper rear-fitter component (not shown).

The numerous alternating attachable fitting options at the upper rear-fitting component as seen in FIG. 14 also increases the number to skin-contact points at the upper area above the rear-lobule area of the multitude shapes and sizes of individual wearers. Increased contact points, for example two or three versus one, optimize the stability of the device after placement on the lower ear. Skin contact points may include a) the area where a rear diverging bend makes direct contact with the skin that directly covers the skull area directly adjacent to the eminence of the concha which is sometimes shaped like an upright tire rim sandwiched between the head and the outer helix of the ear and b) the eminence of the concha itself, which may look like the side of a tire from behind, disposed between the head and the outer ear.

Incidental skin contact may occur at the front lobule area, and in rear, at the often upside down tri-angular shaped depression found on some wearers at a neck-area depression that appears directly below the eminence of the concha, and is also flanked by the skull, and the upper end of the rear earlobe, whether attached or not attached to the side of the head.

Fabrication of Low- and Mid-End Fashion Jewelry Lines and High-End Fine Jewelry Lines

Materials Used in Fabricating Ergonomic Pierce-Free Weight-Bearing Ear-Fastener Base Devices

Materials used in the fabrication of ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing ear-fastener base devices or settings and/or the brand of ear-fasteners referred to as FASCINEARS™ follow safety guidelines as outlined via American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) for adult jewelry.

Fabrication in Low-End Cost Lines: Use of Qualified Plastics

Pierce-free chiral ear-fastener base devices may be made of qualified plastics, preferably medical grade plastics, for economical low-end cost lines of product, whether multi-part or made of one material. Certain plastics also may be used in conjunction with metals used in fabrication of weight-bearing ear fastener base devices, or the brand referred to as FASCINEARS™ as qualified herein, wherein a soft resin or other plastic pad is attached to increase comfort in wearing. The following plastics and/or materials are preferred or not acceptable for use in weight-bearing ear-fastener base devices:

Silicones—Medical grade silicone and/or silicone rubber that are certified for biocompatibility and compliant with the highest national and international regulatory and quality requirements are preferred.

Rubbers—Medical-grade rubber(s) that are flexible and durable may be used if pass the qualifications outlined below.

Other non-toxic plastics—may be used if medical grade and or hypoallergenic, and if the hardness-to-elasticity ratio of the material is at preferred medium and somewhat flexible and medium hard to hard. Semi-rigid plastics used may be measured on the high end of the Shore A Scale. Preferably the hardness of semi-rigid plastics and other plastics, such as rubbers and silicones, used to make ear-fasteners may fall approximately in the durometer range of Shore A at between about 60 and about 100 or Shore D at a range of about 30 to about 80.

Lucite—also called acrylic glass or methacrylate, while light weight and transparent, should not be used in fabrication of ear-fasteners made from one piece due to its hardness. Lucite does not meet the elasticity and shape memory requirements for ease of insertion (snapping back into original shape) as required for the security of sustaining the ear-fastener onto the lower ear for a wearing duration.

Thermoplastic Poly Urethane (TPU)—in health-grade that has a flexibility level between rubbers and plastics may be used. Healthcare grade TPU used in ear-fastener devices may not contain rubber accelerators and/or plasticizers that can cause skin irritation or dermatitis.

Resins—There are many types of plastic resins used by multiple industries. Addressing resins as used in custom- or semi-custom fit ergonomic weight-bearing ear-fastener base devices, and the brand referred to as FASCINEAR:

a) A clear flexible stretchy plastic resin that is soft and elastic but also strong may be used for fasten-on earring bases made of one piece within certain specification qualifications. A high enough percentage of elongation before breaking must be screened for use in said ear-fasteners and the brand referred to as FASCINEARS™ such that wearers can install the ear-fastener base or jewelry fixed-set finished earring onto the ear, if made on once piece, while bending the resin somewhat without breaking, while at the same time rating high quality for Tensile Strength.

b) These resins may be embedded with non-precious stones such as glass crystals, rhinestones, and other safe fillers. While resin is very light weight, it also can be made with no flexibility. Therefore, resins used in FASCINEARS™ should preferably rate between about 2.75 and about 5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Using the Vickers hardness scale of (kg/mm2), which rates a resistance to indentation under pressure, a preferred Vickers rank for resins used to make FASCINEARS™ may be between about 133 and about 535. Resins used for making ear-fasteners have not been tested for relatively significant weight-bearing at this time, and may not bear significant stretching without breaking.

(c) Pierce-free, chiral, ear-fasteners, including those made of one material without a hinge or an extender, are preferred to be made, if made of plastic, said plastic(s) are comprised of pure, uncontaminated material. If a test for contamination is not available, the plastic resin should be examined under a microscope for contaminants.

Contaminated plastic material is too inflexible in comparison to pure plastic material such that the resulting ease of breakage of any portion(s) of contaminated plastics is unacceptable. To insure no contaminants, enter resins used to make ear-fasteners or the brand referred to as FASCINEARS™, painted reground material(s) should never be used in resins that produce ear-fastener base devices. Resins that have a minimal percentage of “clean, non-contaminated, recycled or reground material” should not be used to fabricate ear-fastener base devices.

(d) To test strength of resin provided by small producers, the factory may cut a shape-piece from a fixed place of the product, where it is regular and smooth. That piece should be hung by the border of a table, hanging out more or less 50 percent of its length. Using a 50-gram weight to the opposite end, the test involves checking if the piece breaks or bends. This test also will aid preventing in inappropriate percentages of recycled material inclusion.

(e) May be tested with qualified methods to ensure that undue yellow coloring resins slated for ear-fasteners and/or the brand referred to as FASCINEARS™ occurs, or will occur, over time.

(f) The four tests listed below are useful for comparing acceptable resins and the flexibility they give to plasticity used in ear-fasteners.

1. Impact test: the plastic is hammered with a device. This test will tell how tough the plastic is. Higher toughness means “more difficult to be broken”. 2. Fatigue test: the plastics is flexed back and forth until its breaks. The higher the number of cycles, the better the plastic's property. 3. Destructive pull test: this test will tell if the plastic breaks with longer elongation (better quality plastic) or a short elongation (lower quality). 4. An ultra-violet (UV) resistance impact test conducted with and without UV exposure. The plastics is placed in a UV chamber, and then the impact test is performed.

The device disclosed herein, when made of plastics such as silicone, polymer, acrylic, or resin, or any combination of same, preferably no portion of the device, in implementation, would have an Ultimate Tensile Strength greater than about 46 megapascal (MPa). When made of plastics, ear fastener base device settings may be made with plastics that contain a mix of colorants including metallics and fleck materials that add sparkle, sheen, and texture in either or both the coating and/or solid filling. However, plastics must meet the qualifications disclosed above.

Fabrication: Use of Metals in Multi-Component, Multi-Part, and/or Multi-Material Devices

Materials used in the fabrication of ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing chiral ear-fastener base devices follow safety guidelines as outlined via American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) regarding antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and selenium in paint, and follow the guidelines about surface coatings for cadmium in certain substrate materials of adult jewelry. Additionally, use of nickel and phthalates is strictly cautioned in adult jewelry per ASTM. Embodiments are preferred to be fabricated with lead and nickel free materials, or to decrease exposure to nickel via nickel contents at trace levels only, such as in white gold.

Ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing chiral ear-fastener base devices fabricated in precious metal is defined as, and comprised of, the fine-jewelry metals, which include gold (bonded, yellow, white, rose, tri-color), platinum family metals (platinum, rhodium, palladium, iridium, ruthenium, osmium), and both sterling silver as well as the preferred silver of Argenteum high performance silvers marketed under the trade name ARGENTIUM EXCEL™ 940 and 960 by Argenteum International Limited of London UK.

Precious metals used in the fabrication of ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing chiral ear-fastener base devices as settings also will be defined as including qualified metals that are plated with a precious metal; that are vermeil; and that are gold-filled jewelry.

For mid- to fine-material-cost fabrications, ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing chiral ear-fastener base devices are preferred to be made from golds or gold-plating or gold-vermeil and other precious metals. Said precious metals may include gold and gold alloys at 10K-, 14K- and/or 18K; silver, sterling silver 925, ARGENTIUM brand patented silver, and silver alloys; palladium; rhodium; and/or platinum, all in plating and vermilion versions as well. Also preferable is any of these precious metals as applied over other qualified metals and metal-alloy bases.

Also preferable is use of semi-precious or “contemporary” metals including copper and titanium, and other metals such as brass, zinc, aluminum, molybdenum and other lead and nickel-free metals, including in alloys. Also preferred is hypo-allergenic stainless steel (referred to as medical- and/or health-grade stainless steel) and hypo-allergenic stainless steel plated over copper.

The preferred ear fastener base devices made of multiple components specifically the rear hinging function and front fastener latch, also may comprise metals and/or alloys of metals, and/or qualified plastics recited above, and said sub-portions may be made of harder, less elastic metals, than those qualified for ear-fasteners made of one material. As stated previously, ear-fasteners made of one material are preferred to be made of shape memory titanium and plastics as qualified herein.

Single-Material-Device Metals and Materials

When ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing ear-fastener bases are made of one-piece and from metal(s), said metals are required to be nickel- and lead-free as in a content less than about 8 percent.

Ear-fasteners made from one material are preferably fabricated from “stretchy” and/or memory and/or shape memory metals and/or related alloys, such as pure, beta or near-beta titanium, gold, silver, and platinum including palladium, all of which have the desirable Young's Modulus greater than about 30 gigapascal (GPa).

In implementation, preferably no portion of a one-piece ear fastener base made from pure, beta or near-beta titanium or other hypoallergenic titanium used in ear fastener bases, or in the brand of ear-fastener bases referred to as FASCINEARS™, has an elastic modulus greater than about 125 GPa.

Elastic modulus of metals and/or their alloys and/or plated/vermeil versions of the same, used in the manufacture of one-piece ear fasteners, is preferred to be of at least 5 about 5 GPa to meet minimum elasticity requirements. This means the level of stretchiness, ductility, and/or flexibility of one-piece, pierce-free chiral-engineered deco-ratable weightbearing ear-fastener devices must allow the device to retain its form after any stretching or bending, either via shape-memory functionality or reforming capability. Without these stringent requirements, the device will lose its integrity as a weight-bearing device as claimed.

Preferably, metals used in making one-piece ear-fasteners have high-end elastic-ability to snap back into an original shape and form, similar to stretchy metals and/or related alloys, such as pure, beta and/or near-beta titanium.

Brass, as a generic term for a range of copper-zinc and other alloys, when used in fabrication of one-material ear-fastener base devices, is preferably alloyed with zinc to provide the material with improved strength and ductility. Brasses used in one-material ear-fastener bases also are preferably alloyed with a copper content greater than about 63 percent for optimal material ductility. Additionally, brass, as a copper-zinc alloy, are among preferred alloys for ear-fasteners made of one material, based on bendability and ability to reshape into original form after any bending during insertion and rebending after insertion. Because brass and brass alloys, as qualified herein, have higher malleability than bronze, brass and brass alloys are preferred over bronze as material used in making ear-fasteners.

Other materials besides qualified plastics and qualified metals as outlined via qualifications specified above may also be used in fabrication of ear-fasteners.

Novel Ear Variable Dimension (EVD) Measurement Methods

The present novel invention is directed to an ergonomic pierce-free weight-bearing fasten-on earring base device setting, and the methods for fitting the same are integral to the invention.

After one of the novel automated, semi-automated, and/or hand-held implements methods (described below) is used for sizing each individual wearer, the novel computer-implemented fitting systems and processes are executed. The most complete method of executing the “computer system with self-perfecting ear-profile-based fitting processes” will be disclosed here in this section. Said system also will be referred to as the “computer perfect profile fitting system”, “the CPPF system” and/or the “fit-profile system” in this and all sections.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a computer system with statistically pre-allocated manufacturing resource profile-based fitting processes directed toward efficiently outfitting about 99 percent of all wearer-customers accurately to within about 1 to about 3 millimeters for each of the five critical EVDs. The computer-implemented system's processes and methods enable the fine jewelry and fashion jewelry industries efficiently to fit a large percent of the customer base without building new device fit profiles, providing producers the ability to expediently fulfill orders to customers through the best-fit found among the pre-allocated fit profiles.

The customer acquires a best fitting device through a sequence of device model selection, ear variable dimension measurement, fit feasibility assessment, fit method selection, auxiliary device fasteners and jewel adornment option selection, cost and schedule option selection, and ordering. The order is specified by the jeweler with the computer process that aided the sale, and the device is fabricated by the jeweler's caster and/or manufacturer according to the specification.

The device model selection is performed either online or in the jewelry store based on the style and functionality of the models available. These models and their functionality are described above.

The ear variable dimension measurement is performed one of five ways by a trained jeweler technician with the proper implements and/or image-based software. These methods include 1) fully manual method, 2) photogrammetric-based method, 3) photogrammetric-assisted method, 4) fully automated method and 5) semi-automated method.

The fully manual measurement method can be performed with hand-held implements to include a ruler or caliper, a leveling protractor and two specially fabricated measurement implements. Three EVDs can be measured directly with a ruler. These include 1) the ear length from the top of the anti-tragus ridge to bottom of the lobule 2) the anti-tragus mid-dip to mid-dip width and 3) the length of the lobule below the eminence of the concha. Although a caliper can be used to increase the accuracy and precision of these measurements, a carefully employed millimeter scale transparent ruler meets the precision and resolution requirement of 1 mm of accuracy (closeness to true value) requirements of between 1 mm and 3 mm among these EVDs to be used for a total range fit profile.

The EVDs, the antitragus ridge slope and the concha cavum pocket depth each require specialized measurement implements. The antitragus ridge slope is measured with a level protractor while the concha cavum pocket depth is measured with a novel U-shaped scale-embossed plastic probe that has a handle for ease of insertion referred to here as the pocket-depth probe. After each of the EVDs are measured their values are entered into the profile assignment application.

The implements employed to manually hand-measure the antitragal ridge slope are essentially a protractor with a level float positioned horizontally along the bottom of the protractor to ensure the angle is relative to gravity. Without ensuring the angle is relative to gravity, rather than a tilt of the head forward or backward, ensures hanging adornments are oriented vertically without any visibly distorting twist. The protractor positioned to locate its pivot point at the inter-tragal notch while letting the angle line segment point to the point where the antitragus meets the antihelix. The angle can be read from the protractor with a precision of one degree. The accuracy of the readings from a typical protractor is 0.5 degrees but the location of the antihelix-antitragus juncture cannot be precisely defined. Measurements are allocated to profile clusters that are specified by the difference in the point where the forward and rear fastener latch bands bend over the sloped antitragus. The fastener latch bands bend over the antitragus dips on each other side of the antitragus peak at the center of the antitragus ridge. The distance between these dip points is the antitragus width EVD. The rear band of the two sides of the backward-bent clothoid loop may bend over the dips of the antitragus ridge at a point that may be up to 15 mm higher than that of the front-face-forward band. Because the antitragus ridge (dip-rise-dip) itself moves at a decline, or downward slope, toward the face, the band at the back most often bends over the antitragus ridge at a higher point then that of the band at the front. The present fitting methods disclosed accommodate the declining slope toward the face that determines, on most wearers, the extent of the greater height of the rear bent band unto that of the face-forward band.

This antitragus height difference defined here as Δ_(ATH) is calculated from the antitragus slope defined here as θ_(ATR) and the antitragus width defined as ATW as:

Δ_(ATH) =ATW*sin(θ_(ATR))

The antitragus height difference is partitioned into 2 mm profile fit clusters in alignment with other length based EVDs. For a typical antitragus width of 16 mm, a height difference profile cluster of between 5 and 6.9 mm corresponds to measured AT slope angles between 18 and 25 degrees.

The hand-held concha pocket depth probe used to manually measure the depth of the concha cavum pocket behind the antitragus ridge is a hand-held implement with a handle to place and hold the probe down onto the floor of the conchal pocket. The vertical probe is no more than 1.5 mm thick front to back, no more than 15 mm wide from side to side, and no more than 20 mm height from bottom to top. The pocket depth prove is embossed with a millimeter scale. In addition to the probe there are pair of vertical alignment rails that are positioned outside the ear at the end of the handle. The vertical alignment rails flank the vertical probe with their own millimeter scale markings. The hand-held vertical measurement with the measurers eye aligned in the horizontal plane intersecting with the top of the center of the antitragus ridge (typically the observable peak rise). The device is held with the alignment rail scales lined up with the probe scale when the viewer's eyes are aligned with the top of the antitragus ridge. Sticking out above the plane that attaches the handle to the probe and the alignment rails is a vertical plank that supports a leveling bubble that is used to ensure that the probe and alignment rails are positioned vertically at the time of the measurement. The reading will be biased higher if the probe is tilted toward the observing eye and lower if the probe is tilted away from the eye. An accuracy of 0.5 mm for the measurement of the concha cavum pocket is critical to achieving vertical balance in the device.

1). A photogrammetric-based method also may be utilized in conjunction with the hand-held implements that increase the accuracy and reliability of EVD measurements. In the front close-up photograph is taken while a novel handheld implement is in position at the floor of the conchal pocket. The two pictures are taken of the ear at angles capturing the EVDs. A picture is taken at an angle directly pointed at the ear (a right angle to the subject's face) with the concha pocket depth probe in position, preferably from the vantage point of the viewer during the hand-held measurement of the concha cavum pocket depth. Another picture is taken from behind the ear directly in line with the eminence of the concha and behind the ear lobule with a hand-held implement such as a ruler with a millimeter scale.

The resolution of the photograph and its proximity to the ear should achieve at least 10 pixels per mm. How this is achieved depends on the camera's distance to the ear and the raw (uncompressed) resolution of the digital photograph. The images are read into an application that acquires and registers the images with either an existing customer or an anonymous potential customer flag. In both cases, an acquisition serial number is assigned to and shared by the two photographs. The application then interacts with the measurement user i.e. the jeweler technician through a sequence of identification and pixel location queries. The user is first asked to identify the direct side view photograph and the rear of the ear view photograph. The user is asked to match the ear with one of a small set of ear images based on their general appearance and brief description. The number of prototype ears would number about less than ten. For example, a set of prototype ears could be described as a combination of shallow, medium, and steep AT Slope and long, medium, and short AT to lobe bottom lengths. A set of nine prototype photos would be offered that match each of these descriptions. When the user selects a prototype photo, they are offered a side-by-side view of the prototype and measurement input photo. All key locations are identified on the prototype image in sequence. After the user is shown a key anatomy location on the prototype, they zoom into the section on the measurement photo and mark the equivalent location on the measurement photo. The same acquisition sequence occurs for the rear ear view image for a different set of EVD measurement locations. The application processes the image-based anatomy location selections to compute the EVD values and their expected error based on the image properties and a-priori error in the true knowledge of a location. These values are displayed to the user along with indications of their validity. If an EVD measurement has a value outside of verification limits, then a remeasurement of the EVD in question will be executed to verify its accuracy before finally validating the measurement. Validating a set of measurements invokes the computer perfect profile fitting system which ingests those measurements to be allocated to a fit profile.

2). A photogrammetric-assisted method can also be used in which some of the EVD measurements are measured directly with the hand-held implements and the remaining EVDs are measured using the photogrammetric based methods. In this mode of measurement, the jeweler technician can interact with the photogrammetric assisted method to either skip or override the interactive image-based measurements of one or more EVDs of an ear.

3). A fully automated measurement method would require the same two photos taken with the novel calibrating implements positioned in and next to the ear and could process the images using computer vision techniques described below to produce EVD measurements without requiring any further interaction from the user. Object recognition methods are initially used to detect the calibrating implements through 2-D image correlations with calibration template images to support the registration of the image that rescales the image from pixel to millimeter dimensions. The ear image is correlated with a diverse set of template images like those prototype images offered to the user in the photogrammetric assisted method. The template image with the highest correlation peak will be used as the basis for anatomical feature recognition. Anatomical features of the lower ear are recognized by image processing which initially generates the pixel points of distinct high-contrast boundaries of large objects within the image. These boundary objects are allocated to the anatomical features based on rules parameterized from the template ear that bound their general location relative to the calibration implement. Multiple boundary objects allocated to a feature are aggregated into a single boundary object by a set of rules parameterized from the ear template. The coordinates of the boundary object are fitted to a polynomial curve with an order and coefficients that are initialized according to the ear template anatomical feature. Since the boundary objects are high contrast edges within the image formed as highly elongated objects, the polynomial curve is fitted through the locus of points centered between the closely spaced points of the two long sides of the elongated boundary object. With a parameterized polynomial curve fit to the ear-variable feature elongated boundary object, key measurement points along the curve associated with EVD measurements are defined at predetermined curve inflection points. With the measurement point locations and their uncertainty thus determined, the geometric calculation of the EVD proceeds identically with that used for the interactive photogrammetric method.

4). A semi-automated method enables the jeweler technician to override one or all the automated measurements with the equivalent interactive photogrammetric-based measurement. This method is most likely to be exercised after the fully automated method displays its EVD measurements and statistics and the computed location of the measurement points on the image. It is at this point that, given the display of this annotated image and the measurement error statistics, the jeweler technician may decide to override either the calibration automation or the computed location of the measurement points used to compute individual EVDs.

Additional descriptions of certain of these preferred methods are described further below.

FIG. 22 —Five Ear Variable Dimensions (EVDs) Manual Measurement Process Flow Chart

Manual measurement of the Ear Variable Dimensions is performed according to the steps summarized in the flow chart of FIG. 22 . At 2205, the retail jeweler salesperson, referred to here as “the user”, starts the Fit Profile Order software application if it is not already running on the device it is installed on (usually the PC or Mac used for sales transactions running Windows or MacOS). At 2210, a purchase order ID generated in the sales application that is associated with the customer's identity is separately entered into the Fit Profile System application without the customer's identity. At 2215, the user selects the manual measurement entry option within the Fit Profile Order application. At 2220, the application shows a pane of photos or drawings of nine ear types that will be distinguished as prototypes by significant differences in the AT Slope and the length of the ear below the AT Ridge. The user selects a prototype that most closely matches the customer's ear. At 2225, the Fit Profile Order application then shows an enlarged view of the selected prototype marked and labeled with the locations and extent of the EVD measurements as well as a type-in form to enter the values of each measurement. At 2230, the user employs a transparent ruler marked to a precision of one millimeter to measure 1) the Ear Length below the Antitragus Ridge, 2) the Ear Lobe Length and 3) the Antitragus Width between the dips on either side of the Antitragus Ridge peak. At 2235, these three ruler-performed measurements are entered into their perspective fields of the manual measurement form of the application. At 2240, the slope of the Antitragus Ridge is measured with the leveling protractor according to the labeling presented in the prototype image and enters the value into the slope field of the manual measurement form. At 2245, the Concha Pocket Depth Probe is inserted to measure the depth of the Concha Cavum Pocket with the two probe scales centered at the Antitragus dips on either side of the Antitragus Ridge peak are not visible. The user ensures the probe is oriented vertically by centering the level bubble at the top of the probe. The value is read from the scale with the eye vertically aligned so that the tick marking on the vertical alignment rail positioned outside the ear align with the side probe tick marking to minimize vertical perspective bias of the view. At 2250, the Concha Cavum Pocket depth measurement value is typed into the manual measurement form. At 2255, the user selects a measurement complete button on the form to register the measurement set and order ID into the Fit Profile System.

FIG. 23 —the Concha Cavum Pocket Depth Probe

The Concha Cavum Pocket Depth Probe is presented in three views shown in FIG. 23 . View 23. A shows the measurement device as it would be seen held in front of the ear. The Concha Pocket Depth side probes 2310 are positioned to be inserted into the Concha Cavum Pocket while the center vertical alignment rail 2320 in the middle but forward of the side probes stay outside the ear when the side probe rails are inserted into the pocket behind Antitragus Ridge Dips. The scales on the vertical alignment rail will be offset or misaligned from the probe rails when the device is either tilted away from or towards the viewer's observing eye. Portion 2330 of the device is the leveling bubble that is offset from its center position when the device is tilted left or right (toward or away from the face). Portion 2340 of the device is circular cylindrical tube connecting the working device to the thicker grip-friendly handle 2350. The tube connected to the working device can be rotated to provide a comfortable orientation for the user. View 23. B shows a side view of the device with the handle 2350 rotated outward toward the user and the side depth probes 2310 back toward the head and positioned for insertion into the concha cavum pocket. View 23.0 shows the working part of the device as it is inserted into ear 2360. From this view the device is perfectly aligned for an accurate measurement of an average value of 7 millimeters for the pocket depth.

FIG. 24 —Method of Measuring the Antitragus Ridge Slope Using a Leveling Protractor

FIG. 24 provides a method of measuring the Antitragus (AT) Ridge 2410 Slope using a protractor 2420 equipped with a bubble leveler 2430. The protractor is held up to the ear 2440 level as indicated by the level bubbler 2430 with protractor centered on the low point of the Intertragic Notch 2450. The user moves the pivoted arm 2460 to align with the AT Ridge 2410 declining Slope to read the angle of the slope at 14 degrees in this figure.

FIG. 25 —Photogrammetric-Based Measurements

In certain embodiments of this invention, the photogrammetric-based method of EVD measurement is performed according to the steps summarized in the flow chart of FIG. 25 . At 2505, the retail jeweler provider, referred to here as “the user”, starts the Fit Profile Order software application if it is not already running on the device it is installed on (usually the PC or Mac used for sales transactions running Windows or MacOS). At 2510, a purchase order ID generated in the sales application that is associated with the customer's identity is separately entered into the Fit Profile System application without the customer's identity. At 2515, the user selects the photogrammetric-base measurement entry option within the Fit Profile Order application. At 2520, the Fit Profile Order software application instructs the user to take one photo aimed directly at the ear with the Concha Cavum Pocket Probe in place. The captured photographs is uploaded into the application. At 2525, the application shows a pane of photos or drawings of nine ear types that will be distinguished as prototypes by significant differences in the AT Slope and the length of the ear below the AT Ridge. The user selects a prototype that most closely matches the customer's ear. At 2530, the Fit Profile Order application then shows an enlarged view of the selected prototype side-by-side with the photograph of the ear with the Concha Cavum pocket probe in place. The prototype image is marked with the locations of the calibration points on the pocket probe and the antitragus ridge. At 2535, with the prototype image calibration points as a guide, the user marks the equivalent calibration points on the captured photograph of the ear with the Concha Cavum pocket probe in place. At 2540, the user marks the pocket probe and antitragus points on the captured photograph as indicated on the prototype image and the application computes and displays the Concha Cavum pocket depth. At 2545, the user visually verifies and validates the displayed measurement value of the pocket depth. If the pocket depth value varies by more than 1 millimeter from the value apparent in the photograph, the image registration sequence is repeated 2550. If the value is validated by the user, at 2555 the application displays the prototype image side-by-side with a photograph without the Concha Cavum pocket probe in place. The prototype image shows the marking points used to register the new photograph. At 2560, the user marks the photograph without the Concha Cavum pocket probe in place at the points indicated in the prototype for image registration. At 2565, the application indicates the measurement points for the next EVD in the prototype image. At 2570, the user marks the equivalent points on the captured photograph. At 2575, the application computes and displays the EVD measurement value for the user to verify and validate. At 2580, the user chooses to redo the measurement or proceed to the next EVD for measurement. At 2585, all EVD measurements have been validated by the user and the photogrammetric measurement process is complete.

FIG. 26 —Fully Automated EVD Measurement Flow Chart

The fully automated EVD measurement method repeats the purchase order ID generation and measurement method selection steps presented in the Manual and Photogrammetric Measurement method flow charts in FIG. 22 and FIG. 25 respectively. At 2610, the Fit Profile Order software application instructs the user to take a photo that is aimed directly at the ear. The picture is taken of the ear with the Concha Cavum Pocket Probe in place. The captured photograph is uploaded into the application. At 2615, the automated EVD measurement software interfaced with the Fit Profile System application ingests the image data and begins a process to detect the Concha Probe's general shape and estimate its size and location in the captured photograph as a match to a template image of the probe. At 2620, a process is executed with tilts the template forward and sideways to maximize the peak in the correlation to find the orientation of the probe in the captured photograph. At 2625, when the correlation peak exceeds a threshold, the maximizing forward and sideways tilt parameter values are used to refine the calibrating probe size on the captured image. At 2630, the refined probe pixel size in the captured photograph is used to register the photograph and convert its scale to millimeters at the ear. At 2635, the automated EVD measurement software uses edge detection methods in the area in front of the located pocket probe to locate and determine the top of the Antitragus (AT) Ridge and detect the AT Ridge Dips at minimum edge points in front of the two pocket probes. At 2640, the Concha Cavum Pocket Probe image area is correlated with template images of the probe obscured by the AT Ridge for a progression of Concha Cavum Pocket depths. At 2645, the ear lobe bottom edge is detected as a sharp edge directly underneath the AT Ridge dip points used in the measurement of the pocket depth. These AT dip to lobe edge points form two image line segments to determine the Ear Length Below the AT Ridge EVD as the maximum length of both line segments. At 2650, the ear's scapha that runs along the top and rear size of ear under the helix is detected at an estimated location with respect to the AT Ridge. The line of the scapha is extrapolated to a faint edge below the AT Ridge to estimate the location of the top of the ear lobe as it attaches to the Eminence of the Concha at the rear of the ear. The point where this edge has a flat slope down to the bottom of the ear lobe detected in 2645 is used as the estimated measurement for the Ear Lobe length EVD. At 2655, the positions of the AT Ridge dips are used to directly calculate the AT Ridge dip-to-dip width. At 2660, the height difference of AT Ridge dip points on either side of the AT Ridge peak is calculated using an adjustment calculated from the estimation of offset from vertical derived from template matching the level bubble's position offset from its centered position. The AT Ridge dip-to-dip width and their vertical height difference can be used to calculate the AT Ridge slope. At 2665, all the EVD measurements have been automatically calculated from the captured photograph.

The Fit Profile System

All five measurement embodiment methods provide results meeting the accuracy requirements of a semi-custom fit product ready for mass manufacture. In one Fit Profile System embodiment, the system provides a method to manage the manufacturing process for fasten-on earwear devices by minimizing both the vast number of model dimensional sizing configurations to be maintained and the rate at which newly incoming device fitting configurations must be designed to accommodate ears with EVDs that have yet to be fit. Given anthropomorphic statistical and structural analysis of the anatomy of the ear, a method is described herein that will accommodate 90% of the population with 9% of all possible custom fit profiles. When fitting standards are relaxed to semi-custom fit clusters of custom fit profiles, the number of possible sizes is reduced by a factor of about 35 in which about 2000 fit profile clusters can be used to accommodate 90% of the population.

All length based EVDs are measured with an accuracy of 0.5 mm and the Antitragus Slope EVD is measured with an accuracy of 0.5 degrees. When using the variances associated with measurements reported in various anthropometric surveys of populations for different ear anatomical parts corresponding to the EVDs described in this patent, and applying these variances to a normal distribution that is the standard for anthropometrics, the design and manufacture of earwear devices to accommodate 99% of the population of each EVD to the accuracy of the measurement would result in potentially millions of uniquely fit and sized configurations. Parametric design software can be developed as an overlay to the jewelry design software to configure and fabricate each individual order based on precise EVD measurements. A production model which is more responsively scalable to customer demand would allocate EVD measurements into discrete fit cells while still meeting fit performance criteria. Conventional or parametric jewelry design software can be used to generate an initial set of stereolithography (STL) files to print 3-D molds for precious metal or stainless-steel castings or to be used as inputs to high volume injection molding machines for non-toxic plastics or medical grade silicones or rubbers. To maximize production to fit the most customers effectively, an efficient sizing system that minimizes the number of STL files while maximizing the efficient and productive use of casting and injection molds is disclosed here based on the application of measures of association to population-based anthropometric statistics.

Based on prototyping, EVD measurements can be allocated to 1-millimeter-wide fitting cells for the concha cavum pocket depth, 2-millimeter-wide fitting cells for the ear length below the antitragus, the antitragus width and the ear lobule height, and 5-degree-wide fitting cells for the antitragus slope. To cover 99 percent of the population for each EVD, nine EVD cells are allocated for the ear length below the tragus, the ear lobule height, and the eminence of the concha, 14 cells for the concha cavum pocket depth and seven cells for the antitragus width and its slope. Allocating measurements of 0.5 millimeter and 0.5 degree accuracy to fitting cells reduces the number of possible size combinations for the five EVDs from 9,053,352 to 152,460. However, a jeweler will not pre-design this many fit profiles but will either design to and fulfill orders as they arrive, or the jeweler will pre-design and possibly fabricate the most likely sizes in anticipation of demand.

The fit profile system allows the jewelry manufacturer to agilely respond to demand and plan fabrication of earwear devices in anticipation of demand. A product with a potential market of billions of customers could be worth initially marketing at large scale. Any operational startup investment plan would focus on meeting an initial demand with an optimally scaled design, fabrication, and inventory capacity. The brand referred to as Fascinears' fit profile system described here is a key aspect of this invention necessary to meet demand stemming from a large number of sizing configurations likely to be on order within weeks of a widely marketed product roll-out. The fit profile system described here enables a jeweler-manufacturer to launch and maintain the continued sale, manufacture, and distribution of this product at a scale that manages the risk (generally medium) associated with launching a new product to a familiar market segment of earring or earwear customers.

To meet product launch demand, the fit profile system pre-populates a library of usable STL files based on the most likely sizes of the device to be ordered. Clearly, the most likely size is the mean size for each EVD and the most likely other sizes are clustered around the average sizes for each EVD. In addition, the more any EVD measurement for an individual varies from the mean, the more likely the other EVD measurements for that individual will vary to the same side of the mean and to the same extent from the mean. Published Anthropometric studies of the ear anatomy report statistics of EVDs as if they were independent of the other EVDs. Although these studies do provide significant sample statistics of EVDs for different age and gender groups, no analysis is provided for the statistical clustering of EVDs for individuals. If an individual's specific EVD is larger than average, then knowing how likely a different EVD for that individual varies from larger than average aids the jeweler-manufacturer in determining the value of pre-populating the design and fabrication of 152,460 possible custom fit profiles in the order of the most likely size combinations. To address the lack of statistical information available for a given set of EVD values for an individual, a method is presented here to determine the probability of any possible fit profile with a set of correlation values among the EVDs derived from a geometric analysis of the ear's physical structure in addition to the publicly available values for the mean and standard deviation for the individual EVDs.

The probability of a given fit profile is computed by integrating a multivariate normal probability distribution function ƒ_(x)(x₁, . . . , x_(N)) over the boundaries of the fit profile where:

Prob ⁡ ( x 1 l ≤ x 1 < x 1 u , … , x N l ≤ x N < x N u ) = ∫ x N l x N u ∫ x ( N - 1 ) l x ( N - 1 ) u … ⁢ ∫ x 1 l x 1 u f X ( x 1 , …   , x N ) ⁢ d ⁢ x 1 ⁢ … ⁢ dx N

With the multivariate normal probability distribution function given by

${f_{X}\left( {x_{1},\ldots,x_{N}} \right)} = \frac{\exp\left( {{- \frac{1}{2}}\left( {x - \mu} \right)^{T}{\sum^{- 1}\left( {x - \mu} \right)}} \right)}{\sqrt{\left( {2\pi} \right)^{N}{❘\sum ❘}}}$

Where:

x is the real N-dimensional column vector containing the values (x₁, . . . , x_(N)) of the given partitioned fit profile of ear variable dimensions integrated over each fit profile EVD, x_(k), defined by the partition boundary x_(k) _(l) ≤x_(k)<x_(k) _(u) where the number of EVDs used in the application, N=5. μ is the real N-dimensional column vector containing the population mean values (μ₁, . . . , μ_(N)) of the EVDs. Σ is the real N by N covariance matrix containing the covariances σ_(jk) between EVD_(j) and EVD_(k) is given by:

$\sum{= \begin{bmatrix} \sigma_{1}^{2} & \sigma_{12} & \ldots & \sigma_{1N} \\ \sigma_{21} & \sigma_{2}^{2} & & \\  \vdots & & \ddots & \vdots \\ \sigma_{N1} & \sigma_{N2} & \ldots & \sigma_{N}^{2} \end{bmatrix}}$

The covariance between two EVDs σ_(jk)=ρ_(jk)σ_(j)σ_(k) where ρ_(jk)=ρ_(kj) is the population correlation coefficient between EVD_(j) and EVD_(k).

Note that for the purposes of applying population statistics, sample mean and variance data from publicly available studies are used for the purposes of performing initial calculations of predicting demand for individual fit profiles. The probability of fit profile is calculated numerically using a commercially available quasi-Monte Carlo integration algorithm.

Insight into the raw data sets used for these studies can validate the deterministic analysis leading to the estimation of the covariance matrix. Acquisition of significant raw data sets enabling the arithmetic calculation of the EVD covariance matrix can improve the initial estimation of the covariance matrix for product launch. As more anonymized measurement data are accumulated from the customer base from the market sales orders, a relatively large sample base can soon be established to represent the market population more closely for predictive maintenance underlying the production planning system.

An updated PDF can be computed by weighted mixture of the means, variances and covariances of the initial launch PDF with those means, variances and covariances of growing sample size newly ordered EVD measurements. The updated PDF is given by:

${{\hat{f}}_{X_{u}}\left( {x_{1},\ldots,x_{N}} \right)} = \frac{\exp\left( {{- \frac{1}{2}}\left( {x - \hat{\mu_{u}}} \right)^{T}{\hat{\sum_{u}}{\,^{- 1}\left( {x - \hat{\mu_{u}}} \right)}}} \right)}{\sqrt{\left( {2\pi} \right)^{N}{❘\hat{\sum_{u}}❘}}}$

Where:

${\hat{\mu}}_{u} = \frac{{p_{l}\mu_{l}} + {p_{m}\mu_{m}}}{p_{l} + p_{m}}$

where P_(l) is the sample size of the launch statistics, P_(m) is the sample size of the accumulated Fascinear® market sales order measurements, μ_(l) is the product launch mean vector of the EVDs, and μ_(m) is the sample mean vector of the market sales order measurements.

All the elements of the updated covariance matrix are separately computed

${\hat{\sum}}_{u}{= \left\lfloor \begin{matrix} \sigma_{u_{1}}^{2} & \sigma_{u_{12}} & \ldots & \sigma_{u_{1N}} \\ \sigma_{u_{21}} & \sigma_{u_{2}}^{2} & & \\  \vdots & & \ddots & \vdots \\ \sigma_{u_{N1}} & \sigma_{u_{N2}} & \ldots & \sigma_{u_{N}}^{2} \end{matrix} \right\rfloor}$

Where the term σ_(u) _(jk) =cov_(u)(x_(j), x_(k)) is the updated sample covariance between EVD_(j) and EVD_(k) combined measurement sample vectors x_(j) and x_(k) of length P_(u)=P_(l)+P_(m)

${{cov}_{u}\left( {x_{j},x_{k}} \right)} = {\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{p_{u}}{\left( {x_{ji} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{j}} \right)\left( {x_{ki} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{k}} \right)}}}$

Which can be separated into the launch and market sales samples so that

${{cov}_{u}\left( {x_{j},x_{k}} \right)} = {\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}\left\lbrack {{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{p_{l}}{\left( {x_{ji} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{j}} \right)\left( {x_{ki} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{k}} \right)}} + {\sum\limits_{i = {p_{l} + 1}}^{p_{u}}{\left( {x_{ji} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{j}} \right)\left( {x_{ki} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{k}} \right)}}} \right\rbrack}$

Where the updated sample means

${\overset{¯}{x}}_{j} = {{\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{p_{u}}x_{ji}}} = {\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}\left\lbrack {{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{p_{l}}x_{ji}} + {\sum\limits_{i = {p_{l} + 1}}^{p_{u}}x_{ji}}} \right\rbrack}}$

Which can be expressed in terms of the launch and market sale order sample means as

${\overset{¯}{x}}_{j} = {\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}\left\lbrack {{\left( {p_{l} - 1} \right){\overset{¯}{x}}_{j_{l}}} + {\left( {p_{m} - 1} \right){\overset{¯}{x}}_{j_{m}}}} \right\rbrack}$

If launch and market EVD means x _(j) _(l) , x _(j) _(m) , x _(k) _(l) and x _(k) _(m) are substituted as approximations for x _(j) and x _(j) _(m) in the covariance so that

${{cov}_{u}\left( {x_{j},x_{k}} \right)} \approx {\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}\left\lbrack {{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{p_{l}}{\left( {x_{ji} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{j_{l}}} \right)\left( {x_{ki} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{k_{l}}} \right)}} + {\sum\limits_{i = {p_{l} + 1}}^{p_{u}}{\left( {x_{ji} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{j_{m}}} \right)\left( {x_{ki} - {\overset{¯}{x}}_{k_{m}}} \right)}}} \right\rbrack}$

then the updated covariance will be biased until the market sales or sample size P_(m)>>P_(l). However, these approximations can be used to estimate the updated covariance matrix when the original launch measurement data is not available to compute the covariance matrix directly. As a result

${{cov}_{u}\left( {x_{j},x_{k}} \right)} \approx {\frac{1}{\left( {p_{u} - 1} \right)}\left\lbrack {{\left( {p_{l} - 1} \right){cov}_{1}\left( {x_{j},x_{k}} \right)} + {\left( {p_{m} - 1} \right){{cov}_{m}\left( {x_{j},x_{k}} \right)}}} \right\rbrack}$

While the market sales order covariance cov_(m)(x_(j), x_(k)) can be computed directly from the sales order measurement data, the launch covariance cov_(l)(x_(j), x_(k)) is estimated according to the pre-launch publicly available EVD means and standard deviations as:

cov_(l)(x _(j) ,x _(k))=σ_(l) _(jk) ={circumflex over (ρ)}_(l) _(jk) σ_(l) _(j) _(l) _(k)

Where {circumflex over (ρ)}_(l) _(jk) is the anatomically estimated correlation coefficient between EVD_(j) and EVD_(k) and σ_(l) _(j) and σ_(l) _(k) are the standard deviations of EVD_(j) and EVD_(k) that are available before product launch.

Along with published EVD mean and variance statistics, the EVD correlation values can be used to compute and sort the probability of all individual fit profiles. The practical consequence of using non-zero correlation values among the EVDs results in a distribution function indicating a natural clustering of the multi-dimensional fit profiles where the most likely fit profiles will be those in which the marginal probabilities of each EVD are close together. For example, an individual with an extra wide antitragus width is very unlikely to have an extra short ear length below the antitragus. An impractical result of treating the EVDs as independent variables e.g., zero off-diagonal covariances, indicates a combination of a short ear length and an extra wide antitragus to be more likely than an extra-long ear length below the antitragus with an extra wide antitragus. Sorting the probabilities of the fit profiles enables the jeweler-manufacturer to reliably prioritize the design and fabrication of devices in anticipation of customer demand, particularly during product launch.

A jeweler-manufacturer would follow these steps toward launching and maintaining the Fit Profile System to predict, meet and maintain customer demand for a product like the brand referred to as Fascinears® which comfortably and effectively fits the wide variety of human ear shapes.

1. Research open anthropometric literature to find large sample size mean and variance statistics for ear variables used to size and design devices. If individual measurements are available from significant sample size studies (>200 ears), then directly compute means, variances and covariances.

2. Establish a minimum set of discrete size partitions for each ear variable dimension covering 99 percent of the population measurements for that ear variable assuming a normal statistical distribution.

3. If ear variable covariance data is not available, construct a set of correlation values between the EVDs based on physical rationale.

4. Compute the joint probability of all discrete EVD size partition combinations defined here as fit profiles.

5. Sum the fit profile probabilities in an order sorted from highest to lowest probability until the desired fraction of the target market is met for pre-launch design and production. The number of fit profiles meeting the desired fraction of the market will drive the cost of responsively meeting target launch demand.

6. Apply the sorted fit profile probabilities to an estimate of the number of product launch customers to compute the number of each fit profile to initially manufacture and stock.

7. Maximize product launch effectiveness by designing (creating chiral STL pairs) for fit profiles with lower projected demand while fabricating some devices to meet medium projected demand and stocking more devices with higher projected demand.

8. As orders for the product arrive, either build a new sample-based probability distribution to replace the launch probability distribution when the sample size meets statistical significance criteria or update the launch probability distribution with market sales order measures of profile sample sets according to the procedures described above.

9. Update design, fabrication, and stocking priorities for fit profiles as statistically significant numbers of orders are received. When unexpected fit profile orders are received and must be met with design and single order fabrication, they may not immediately impact the profile probability distribution but will expand the number of fit profiles with designs ready for fabrication.

The results of a paper example of the fit profile demand prediction method described above are summarized here and presented graphically in FIGS. 28 through 30 . Given an estimate of the inter-relatedness or correlation among the measured EVD values, results reveal that 9.2 percent of all possible custom fit profiles (about 14,000) would likely fit 90% of the population. Testing the sensitivity of knowledge of the EVD cross-correlation values reveals that increasing the average correlation by 30% decreases the number of fit profiles supporting 90% of the population by half or to 4.6 percent of the 152,460 possible custom fit profiles or about 7000 fit profiles. When device fit accuracy requirements for ear variables are relaxed to semi-custom standards that provide an adequately snug and comfortable fit, devices are built to accommodate clusters of custom fit profiles such that the average semi-custom fit profile cluster contains about 35 adjacent custom fit profiles. As a result, there are about 4375 possible profile clusters. When the same anthropomorphic statistics are applied to fit profile clusters, paper example results show that devices built for 2000 fit profile clusters would fit about 91% of the population and if the actual average EVD correlation is 30% higher, the same 91% of the population would fit into 1209 fit profile clusters. Smaller scale custom fine jewelry designs and sales will preceed the launch of a mass manufacturing project. Fine jewelry sales of the device should submit enough measurement data to the Fit Profile System to increase the statistical significance of predictions like those presented above. Updated probabilities for the fit profiles inform the feasibility of scaling manufacturing facilities for the type of mass production needed to meet increased demand afforded by lower unit production cost.

A jeweler-retailer that is licensed to sell semi-custom fitting Fascinears® shows samples of unadorned base models as well as pictures and models of ears wearing the base and adorned device. A jeweler-retail salesperson could also be wearing a fitted sample and demonstrate an interested customer how to attach existing jewelry to the device and how to attach the device to the ear. The salesperson would explain the necessity of fitting the device to the ear and how the ear would be measured to the customer. The salesperson would explain how much time is involved in performing the measurement and would at least require a deposit. The customer would have the opportunity to order a low-cost plastic temporary device model to order under the understanding that the cost of the test model would be applied to order of an actual precious metal device. If the test model does not fit comfortably, a new test model, based on updated EVD measurements, can be ordered at no additional cost. The customer would be offered multiple days to acclimatize to the test model before deciding to proceed with the order of the precious metal device. Otherwise, the customer can immediately decide to order the precious metal device that matches the test model or be measured for a new test model. Alternatively, a customer can decide to waive ordering the test model and directly order a precious metal device after the initial measurement. When the customer tries on the device for the first time and does not feel comfortable enough with its fit, the jeweler may manually adjust the device by bending it in places to improve the fit to the customers satisfaction. When a jeweler manually adjusts the device to fit the customer, the device can no longer be returned to be stocked by either the retailer or the fabricator and the customer must accept the jeweler adjusted device as unreturnable to the retailer. Depending on the business model adopted by the retailer, the delivered precious metal Fascinear may either be returned within a given time by the customer for a full or partial refund (lost deposit) or be asked to accept it at order time as a no-returns-accepted custom fitted device.

A jeweler-retailer would interact with the Fit Profile System for ear fasteners or the brand of same referred to as Fascinears® by entering the EVD measurements either through one of the semi-automated or automated measurement applications or directly into a keyboard entry dialogues if the measurement was performed manually as described in the previous section. When an individual's identity is associated with their EVD measurements it can be used as biometric data to identify the individual with their EVD measurements. Anthropomorphic measurements of an individual's ears are considered as biometric data that can be used to covertly identify the individual in a public setting. The Fit Profile System does not need nor intend to collect biometric data. The Fit Profile System uses only the order number with the fit profile to compile better statistics to predict customer demand. The EVD measurements are mapped by the Fit Profile Application on a local device to a fit profile code which is associated to the order number for the individual. The order number is assigned to a base device code that identifies the model and fit profile. This order is sent to the Fit Profile Server which uses the base device code to compile it as a statistic and transmits the order to the jeweler-fabricator.

The individual's identity attached to the order number remains exclusively with the jeweler-retailer. The customer signs a disclosure stating that the retailer keeps the order information including the customer's identity and the fit profile code locally for a period of one year before the order information is destroyed. The jewelry-fabricator satisfies the order by returning the fabricated device associated with the order number to the retailer who matches the order number with the customer identity. Under this scheme, drop shipments from the jewelry-fabricator directly to the customer are only possible when the customer explicitly approves sending their identity associated with the order's fit profile to the Fit Profile Server and jeweler-fabricator; and then only after being informed that they are releasing biometric data for permanent retention by the Fit Profile Server, or in some other manner that conforms with any applicable laws or regulations. The fabricated device and its packaging will be stamped with the base device code. Since the fabricated device is small, the code will be necessarily tiny but legible with a modest jeweler's loupe in an easily decipherable format. For example, a nine digital hex number could identify a version number in the first two digits, a model number in the third digit, while the remaining five digits are allocated separately to each EVD. In compliance with emerging biometric data collection legislation, the customer will have direct access to the fit profile code as part of their receipt with a plain language listing of their ear size data after submitting the order.

A jeweler-retailer that is licensed to sell custom fitting and custom adorned models would sell and order a pair of Fascinears® in a manner like that of a semi-custom fit but would transmit the actual EVD measurements to the jewelry fabricator who would build a pair of STL CAD models directly from the precise measurements to be used for printing the temporary plastic model and ultimately the casting of the precious metal device. Under the arrangements of the custom Fascinears® licensing agreement, the measurement is transmitted to the Fit Profile Server under the anonymous cover of the purchase order number to be used solely for statistical purposes.

FIG. 27 —Fitted Ear Fastener Retail Sales Order and Fulfillment Process Flow Chart. The fitted ear fastener sales order and fulfillment process follows separate process flows depending on whether the customer orders a custom or semi-custom fitting and whether they opt to order a pre-trial model to ensure its fit. At 2705, the retail jeweler salesperson explains the benefits of the device to the customer interested in purchasing it. At 2710, the retail jeweler salesperson explains the measurement and ordering process to the customer. At 2715, the customers ears are measured using the selected measurement process or method. At 2720, the EVD measurement set is submitted to the Fit Profile System (FPS). The customer is offered a custom-fit base or a semi-custom fit base representative of an entire standardized cluster-group. The customer is also offered an optional resin trial model for either a custom-fit base or a semi-custom fit base. The customer is informed that neither the resin trial product nor the finished product is refundable. The resin trial selection is encouraged since it's cost may be a small fraction of that for the finished product. At this point, the flow divides between the custom and semi-custom selections. The custom fit selection flow is followed here next. At 2725, the customer decides to purchase a custom fitting device. At 2730, when the retailer enters the custom device order into FPS, FPS determines if there is an existing design file (3 dm) for the assigned custom fit profile. At 2735, if there is no existing design file, then a new 3 dm file is designed for the fit profile and model. The 3 dm design file registered with the FPS and assigned a custom fit profile code. At 2736, if there is an existing 3 dm design file for the custom fit profile and design, then that 3 dm design file is reused for the order. At 2740, the 3 dm design file is converted into a stereo lithograph file format (STL) to be fabricated as either the custom pre-trial resin model or as the finished ear-fastener device. At 2745, if the custom trial device is selected, it is fabricated with a low-cost material. At 2746, if the finished device is selected, it is fabricated as fine jewelry with precious metals. Returning to the semi-custom device order path, at 2727, the semi-custom fit is selected by the customer. At 2732, when the retailer enters the semi-custom device order into FPS, FPS determines if there is an existing coded fit-profile cluster cohort device in stock that matches the individual customer's fit profile. At 2737, if there is no cohort device in stock, a new 3 dm is designed for the ordered fit profile, and code and registered in FPS. At 2745, the 3 dm file is converted to an STL file to fabricate either the semi-custom finished actual device or the resin trial device. At 2747, the semi-custom trial device is fabricated with a low-cost material. At 2748, the actual device is fabricated with precious metal. At 2750, all device types including trial-custom, actual-custom, trial-semi-custom or actual semi-custom is delivered to the retail jeweler where the device is tested for fit on the customer's ears. At 2760, the retail jeweler and the customer determine that the delivered device fits. At 2770, if the delivered device is a finished precious metal product, then the product is accepted by the customer who pays the balance of the purchase price. At 2772, if the delivered device is a resin trial device that fits, then the finished product is ordered to be fabricated and delivered to the retail jeweler. At 2765, the retail jeweler and the customer determine that the delivered device does not fit. At 2774, the customer decides to reject the device and go no further with the order. At 2780, as a result of rejecting the actual device that does not fit, the customer forfeits the deposit made on the actual device. At 2782, as a result of rejecting the trial device, the customer forfeits the deposit made on the trial device. At 2776, instead of rejecting the device, it is decided that the fit issue must be remedied to continue with the order. At 2784, the retail jeweler may decide to physically adjust the actual to obtain an acceptable fit for the customer. At 2786, it is decided to perform another measurement on the customer and the flow returns to step 2715.

As stated previously, a jeweler-manufacturer may use the statistical embodiment method described above to pre-populate the most likely to be ordered fit profiles with STL CAD design files and even an inventory of temporary qualified plastic fasten-on earwear devices or the same devices referred to as the brand Fascinears®. Until a larger jeweler-manufacturer can make this investment to anticipate and prepare for nationwide demand, smaller independent jeweler-retailers with the resources to fabricate these devices on an order-by-order basis would also be able to exploit and support the Fit Profile System Server under a licensing agreement. Under this arrangement, nearly all devices would be custom-made while also be assigned a fit profile code. When the Fit Profile System Server is initially launched, the number of fit profiles having been populated with STL CAD files will be relatively low. When each independent jeweler-manufacturer measures a customer's ears and custom creates a pair of STL CAD files, they a required to submit both the anonymized measurement and the STL CAD files to the server, to populate a fit profile for re-use. The independent jeweler-retailer may submit the measurement to the server to see if the fit profile has already been populated with custom pair of STL CAD files. If these STL CAD files exist for the fit profile matched to the customer's EVD measurement set, the retailer may offer the customer a semi-custom fit design at a lower price since the device fabricated from the existing STL CAD files would fit within the fit-accuracy criteria set for semi-custom fits. When examining the metadata describing the fit profile assigned STL CAD files, the retailer would see the precise EVD measurement values used for the custom fit mapped to the semi-custom fit profile. The retailer could decide to create their own custom fit STL CAD files for the customer and would still submit the new STL CAD files to the Fit Profile System server as a second slightly different set to be associated with the individual fit profile. In this case embodiment, future orders mapped to this fit profile may be provided both or several sets of STL CAD files to choose from as a semi-custom fit. Note that any jeweler entity who would pre-populate fit profiles before any orders are received for the fit profile would produce a set of STL CADS exactly matching the center values of the EVDs for the fit profile. Custom fitting sourced STL CAD files would most likely be made for EVD measurements that vary slightly from the center values of the EVDs for the fit profile while remaining in the fit profile qualified as a semi-custom fit for any order mapped to that profile. As more data is submitted to the Fit Profile Server, the statistics will improve to the point where a larger scale manufacturer can see the value of pre-populating fit profiles with designs and inventory for a larger scale roll-out.

The disclosed device is unique when compared with other known attempted solutions such as a wire or banding that cantilevers somewhat over one side of the antitragus rise and has neither a stopgap hinge nor eminence-of-the-concha fitters in rear because it provides:

(1a) The strength of the entire antitragal ridge-wall of hard cartilage due to all ear-fastener base device embodiments, as exemplified by the upper Y-shaped embodiments, flank the center rise of the antitragal peak at the two adjacent dips on either side of said antitragus rise. None of these embodiments curve over the antitragal-ridge via one band or via one side of the antitragus rise, but instead are required to straddle both sides of the custom-measured antitragal ridge on both sides of the antitragus rise. This is possible because the associated ear-variable-dimension sizing- and fitting-methods disclosed ascertain the degree of the antitragal-ridge's slope as inclining lower toward the face, and also the width of the antitragus ridge as a metric defined by the mid-point of the two dips that flank the raised peak of the antitragus itself for each individual wearer. These dimensions and their population differentiations accordingly are accommodated. It should be noted that not everyone has a ridge wall that includes an antitragus upward protrusion, or peak rise, at mid-center, meaning at the mid-point of the antitragal ridge, and said differences are accommodated via the fitting methods disclosed.

(1b) The entire antitragal ridge-wall, and the ear-lobule soft-tissue length that hangs like a curtain from said ridge-wall below, is exploited via the engineering of ear-fasteners base devices as fixture-plated settings upon which fixed set precious decorative gems and jewelries may be permanently set in the frontal display placement location. The ear-fastener device also is engineered with significant weight-bearing functionality as disclosed via optimized design by the use of the double-banded fastening latch-loop that not only makes contact at two separate points along said antitragal ridge-wall width, but with the qualification that said bands are required to simultaneously straddle the antitragus mid-point on either side (not one side or the other). Additionally, the bottom of the frontal fastener latch-loop is custom length to sit on an individual wearer's conchal pocket floor, thus providing a balancing fulcrum to onboarded weight.

FIG. 28 through FIG. 30 present key results of a paper example of the fit profile demand prediction method described in the Fit Profile System section.

FIG. 28.0 —Cumulative Population Fitted for Average EVD Cross Correlation Value. The inter-relatedness or cross correlation among the EVDs affects the number of fit profiles that will accommodate a given percentage of the population. In the case where the EVDs are perfectly correlated with cross-correlation values of one, when each EVD size is increased all other EVD sizes increase proportionally. This describes the case where all ears in the population are the same shape and only vary by size. If in this case, each EVD is measured in ten sizes, then the whole population will fit into ten fit profiles since these each describe EVDs with sizes directly proportional to each other. No other fit profiles are possible with perfect correlation among the EVDs. On the other extreme if all the EVDs are totally unrelated and independent of each other, then all combinations of EVD values expressed in fit profiles are possible and probable to the extent that each EVD has its own normal probability distribution. There are more likely fit profiles in the totally uncorrelated EVD case to the extent that their individual EVD values are more likely. The plot in FIG. 28.0 shows the cumulative probability of fit profiles of increasing likelihood with curves of increasing average cross correlation among the EVDs. The curve in which the average cross correlation is zero shows the higher likelihood of fit profiles with more likely independent EVDs at the lower end of the horizontal scale. Even if the EVDs are independent, 80 percent of the population is accommodated by 10 percent of the fit profiles with EVDs of the most likely sizes. However, limited available data and some anatomical based analysis led to the use of an average cross-correlation value among the EVDs of 0.361 for this paper example. Since there presently exists so few available EVD cross correlation data, a sensitivity analysis of the effects of larger or smaller average cross correlation values are compared in the curves of this graph.

FIG. 28.1 —Probability Scatter Plot of the 10,000 Most Likely Custom Fit Profiles.

The probability scatter plot presents another way to show the relative likelihood of individual fit profiles. FIG. 28.1 shows the likelihood of the 10,000 most likely custom fit profiles using the EVD cross correlation values with an average of 0.361 described in the description for FIG. 28.0 . Each fit profile is placed on the horizontal axis based on its average EVD size above its mean size. The resulting scatter plot shows that the most likely fit profiles are grouped toward the mean size. The fit profile coding scheme used for sales order fulfillment is provided in this graph. The most likely fit profile as coded with the value 66854 represents a fit profile in which all five EVD values are the mean or medium values. Note that although the average mean size of each EVD fits about one-quarter of the population, the percentage of the population in which all EVDs are the mean size is approximately one-quarter to the fifth power or about 0.1 percent.

FIG. 29.0 —Probability Scatter Plot of the 100 Most Likely Custom Fit Profiles. Custom fit profiles are represented as shapes within the probability scatter plot of FIG. 29.0 . With a pentagon representing the fit profile in which all EVDs are at the mean value, the pentagon shape sides are extended or cut into with triangle shapes to represent EVD values over or under the mean respectively. Shape examples are presented in the legend for further clarification. Shapes are also shade coded to represent the standard deviation of a fit profile's EVD values above the mean. The more likely fit profiles exhibit less variance among the EVD values. The 100 most likely fit profiles fit 6.1 percent of the population in this paper study.

FIG. 29.1 —Probability Scatter Plot of the 100 Most Likely Semi-Custom Fit Profiles. Semi-custom Fit profile clusters are represented as shapes within the probability scatter plot of FIG. 29.1 . The shape coding scheme used in FIG. 29.0 is repeated here except for the fact that there are fewer cluster codes and the EVD all-mean size cluster uses smaller code values since there are fewer sizes for each EVD within a fit profile cluster. The more likely values appearing on the right side of this scatterplot at about 2 average sizes above mean stand out because in the model used for this paper study larger sizes above the mean support a wider size range to fit people at extreme EVD size values. The 100 most likely fit profile cluster fit 17.1 percent of the population in this paper study showing how manufacturing the same number of semi-custom fit devices supports nearly three times the population.

FIG. 30.0 —Comparison of the Cumulative Population Fitted with Custom and Semi-custom Methods. The plot in FIG. 30.0 shows a comparison of the cumulative probability of decreasingly likely custom fit profiles and semi-custom fit profile clusters. Custom orders will gradually populate the fit profiles of decreasing likelihood. While all custom and semi-custom orders contribute to custom fit profile statistical demand predictions, this figure shows manufacturing logistics and support of a semi-custom fitting line of the device would quickly fulfill over 90% of the orders with a ready-to-manufacture line-up or inventory of devices supporting 2000 separate fit profile clusters.

FIG. 30.1 —A Prophetic Example of Retail and Manufacturing Fulfillment of Semi-custom Fit Devices through the Fit Profile System. The Fit Profile System operations would be maintained centrally by the licensor of the ergonomic pierce-free custom-fitted earring devices that are the primary subject of this patent. Licensee retailers and manufacturers of the semi-custom versions of these devices would be geographically distributed. FIG. 30.1 demonstrates how semi-custom fit profile cluster statistics are collected by the Fit Profile System as new orders for the device are fulfilled by national retailers and manufacturers through the Fit Profile System. The scatter plot on the right shows order counts for each semi-custom fit profile cluster at a snapshot in time for the first 93,701 orders as predicted in the paper study performed here. The graphic shows all retail orders going to the centrally managed Fit Profile System before they are sent to the manufacturers to fulfil the orders directly to the retail provider.

Structural Method Differences from Other Available Solutions

The disclosed device is unique and different in that it is structurally custom fitted unlike known options or solutions for earring jewelry adorning the lower one-third of an ear without penetrating or clamping the ear lobule.

Skin and cartilage synergistically strengthen the conchal cavum and using ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of about 27 MPa for skin, inference suggests that the conchal-basin could withstand a force of about 540 Newtons, or about 119 pounds equivalent. This force would exceed the breaking point of an ear fastener device with a UTS of about 60 MPa where the weight-bearing stress is concentrated in the fastener area of about 6 square millimeters at end loop area at the bottom of the concha pocket, after bending over the antitragus could withstand a force of about 360 Newtons. In the unlikely accidental event of the ear fastener being subject to such a force, it would be safer for the ear fastener to break apart away from the ear.

In addition, the ear fastener provides an enhanced aesthetical effect by virtue of the increased jewelry display canvass due to the practicality of covering the entire earlobe area and the ridge above. As an example, the ear fastener embodiment shown in the figures provides over about 400 square millimeters of canvass upon which jewelry may be set in place along the frontal adornment fixture plate portion of front componentry.

Multiple “cargo” embodiments are included, some with a permanently fixed upper slide-on adaptor and others with adaptor portions in the middle or bottom of the device requiring spring-clasps for onboarding removable additional décor. Said cargo embodiments comprise portions that allow for onboarding additional jewelry décor such that the wearer is at low risk of losing value of precious metals via precious metal that is permanently fixed-set in multiple repeat fixed settings, which may no longer be usable due either to no longer being comfortable (pierce and clamp) or no longer in style (changes in fashion and trends).

Additionally, a wearer may don the device as a base-frame alone; as an underlying base-setting studded and fixed-set with jewelry that also onboards more interchangeable decor; and/or as a plain base-frame onto which add-ons are attached, such as via spring-clasps, snap-ons, magnet-ons, and screw-ons. The user may also add on modified legacy earrings via adaptors that onboard interchangeable decor, such as existing post-, pierce-, and clip-on ear jewelry via adaptors disclosed.

More specifically, the device is unique due to its sustainable metals aspect based on the timelessness that the custom- and semi-custom sizing and fitting methods provide.

Each ergonomic pierce-free custom-fitted ear-fastener base device that includes a fixed-set adaptor, referred to as “cargo-bases”, allow wearers interchangeable to add-on or take-off a multitude of existing décor, thus reducing the number duplicative settings in jewelry earring wardrobes. For example, once a wearer has a custom-fitted cargo, or onboarding, model, which is timeless, the wearer has no need to keep rebuying precious metal pierced or clip-on earring settings in perpetuity, thus saving on precious metal repurchasing costs. Said sustainability in use of precious metals such as gold and silver in jewelry earrings constitutes a novel approach that is earth and budget friendly.

The device also is unique when configured as a one-piece, non-hinged embodiment in that the directionality of the device diverges more significantly moving from front to back than that of the more subtle diverging bend in multi-component embodiments. All devices made of one piece include a diverging directionality, which is a “bend,” that changes the direction of the frontal-facing componentry unto the direction of the rear-facing componentry. From a head on view (as facing a wearer) the portion moving from underneath the earlobe to behind the earlobe will bend towards the eminence of the concha, while moving upward alongside the length of the rear lobule. At the junction of the rear lobule and the eminence of the concha, the lower rear fitter joins the lower rear portion. The entire rear concave fitter cups the convex eminence of the concha as do rear fitters on multi-part devices.

Restated differently, when the device is on a wearer who is facing north, the frontal-jewelry-display portion faces east from the head on a right ear and west from the head on a left ear. However, at the rear or lowermost componentry of the right- and left-ear devices, in contrast, a diverging bend is allocated such that the rear componentry changes direction and faces north, meaning forward toward the rear eminence of the concha. Said change in direction allows the device efficiently to spread and balance jewelry-adornment weight across the entire device, more evenly throughout the entire device and for the device's rear end fitter to cup the rear eminence of the concha, which requires the rear fitter to face north.

That elemental diverging directional feature from front to back in conjunction with specified fabrication materials providing enough “stretchy” elasticity to allow the wearer to mount the one-piece device setting onto the ear through a relatively small stretchable opening, depending upon sizing and fitting method results. More critically, while the opening in devices made of one piece may be relatively small, limits associated with said openings also are defined by the amount of pressure imposed on a single thickness of the concha cavum wall, which is preferred to be no more than about 24,516 Pascals of pressure, but in no embodiment will be more than about 32,361 Pascals of pressure.

Devices made of one material as disclosed have enough shape memory to reform into original shape after mounting, and to do so consistently over time during the life of the device per specification herein disclosed.

Certain highly preferred embodiments will now be described. In a highly preferred embodiment, a custom-fit fasten-on chiral earring base device for an individual's ear is provided. The base comprises (a) a frontal-display jewelry design fixture plate for placing heads and/or designs for setting precious gems and/or other jewelry; (b) a front loop comprising a steep diverging-banded upper nexus above the frontal-display fixture that is a bend-angled fastening mount shaped like a backward-bent clothoid loop, said front loop serving as a mounting latch that reaches up and over, and simultaneously flanks, the antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips, while accommodating any relative differences in the height of each dip; (c) an end loop portion on the front loop that extends to and engages the depth of the inner conchal cavum pocket floor at multiple points and forms a fulcrum for the base; (d) a sharp curve at the device's lower-most portion that runs under and clears the longest tissue of the individual's ear lobule from front to back (about face) as disposed below the lower end of the frontal-display fixture location in front and joining with a lower rear-lobule portion in back; (e) the lower rear-lobule portion connects to the curving lower-most portion on the lower side and to a rear hinge on the higher side, skimming past the rear lobule; (f) the rear hinge selected from the group consisting of a click-back hinge, a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure hinge, a sway-to-snap hinge connected to the lower rear-lobule portion, another hinge construction, or their equivalents; and (g) an extended rear-fitter member that contacts the rear eminence of the concha at multiple points, and which is engaged and disposed at the rear hinge. The opening between the front loop and the extended rear-fitter member is defined by the amount of pressure imposed on a thickness of the concha cavum wall when in closed hinging position, which will not be more than about 32,361 Pascals of pressure. The base when fastened into the conchal cavum pocket floor in front, clears the soft-tissue lobule at bottom, and is hinge-closed in rear such that the extended rear-fitter member spoons the rear eminence of the concha, and said base is coupled to the lower one-third of the ear including the area where traditional piercing earrings display décor.

In this embodiment, the base may be capable of safely and securely (i.e., not falling off under normal, non-strenuous use, such as when working in an office-type environment) carrying adornments with weight levels up to and greater than about 30 grams per ear. In some of these embodiments, the base further comprises an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed at the lowermost portion of the device onto which additional dangling décor may be onboarded.

In another preferred embodiment, an earring base device is provided. The base comprises a first end oriented at least in part on the front of the base and a second end oriented at least in part on the rear of the base. The base also comprises (a) a latch component on the first end, which is oriented on the front of the ear when the base is mounted, which comprises portions that reach up and over and simultaneously flank the ear's antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips, and which further comprises an end loop portion that extends to the depth of the inner conchal cavum floor and contacts it at multiple points; (b) a rear component on the second end, which is oriented on the rear of the ear when the base is mounted, which comprises a rear-fitter member portion that contacts and spoons the rear eminence of the concha cavum cartilage at multiple points, and which when the base is mounted there are portions of the rear-fitter member portion that are anterior and higher in plane to the latch component in front. The base of this embodiment when mounted on the ear is mounted onto the lower portion of the ear without using any piercing of the ear and without clamping onto the lobule of the ear. The base of this embodiment when mounted on the ear engages a thickness of concha cavum cartilage at the front and the rear of the ear using the end loop portion of the latch component and the rear-fitter member portion of the rear component.

In this embodiment, the base may further comprise a rear hinge selected from the group consisting of a click-back hinge, a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure hinge, a sway-to-snap hinge connected to the lower rear lobule portion, another hinge construction, or their equivalents, and said rear hinge is posterior to and it engages and disposes the rear-fitter member portion.

In this embodiment, the base may also comprise a frontal-display fixture attached to the base and adornments, wherein the adornments are attached to either the frontal-display fixture or to an onboarding adaptor that is attached to the frontal-display fixture. In some of these embodiments, the frontal-display fixture comprises a center receiving socket for receiving decorative snap caps or comprises a slide-in socket for receiving T-bar backed adornments. In some of these embodiments, base may further comprise a dangle onboarding bar or circle adaptor that is disposed at the center of the frontal-display fixture below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component and onto which adornments may be onboarded. In some of these embodiments, the frontal-display fixture may comprise sockets and tubes at the front. In other of these embodiments, the frontal-display fixture may comprise a round plate, the plate comprising a center receiving socket for receiving decorative snap caps.

In this embodiment, the base may further comprise a closed-ended circular-shaped adaptor that is disposed on the lowermost portion of the device, and onto which additional adornments may be onboarded. In some of these embodiments, the base may further comprise an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed on the upper front portion of the latch component, and onto which pierced and/or clip-on earring body adornments, and/or other adornments, maybe onboarded. In other embodiments the base may further comprise a frontal-display vertical fixture-wire band for attaching and displaying adornments on an onboarding slide-on adaptor, wherein the center of said band dips toward the lobule to clear adornments hanging from above the onboarding slide-on adaptor.

In this embodiment, the latch component may further comprise an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component, and on which adornments may be onboarded. In other embodiments, base may further comprise a frontal-display wire band and a tube, wherein the frontal-display wire band is attached to the front of the base, wherein the tube comprises an open-end that is disposed below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component and which is also disposed at the center of the frontal-display wire band, wherein a brooch, pin or bent pierced-post earring may be inserted vertically into the tube.

In this embodiment, the base may be capable of displaying adornments that are attached to the base that weigh about 30 grams or more. In some of these embodiments, the base further comprises adornments, wherein the adornments are removable and replaceable with other adornments. In addition, in some embodiments, the base and/or adornments attached to the base, when the earring base device is worn on the ear, covers portions of the lobule of the ear that have been damaged, altered, or are otherwise not preferable.

It is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure, and, in some instances, some features of the novel invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

Additional Definitions

The term “lower-conchal ridge-wall,” also referred to herein as the “antitragal-ridge wall” refers to the hard-cartilage-tissue ridge that spans horizontally, or sloping-toward-the face declined, at a width that lies between the soft junction at the lower start, or origin, of the anti-helix, all the way to the hard-cartilage tissue incisure that lies below the tragus above.

The term “antitragus” herein refers to an “antitragus protrusion” or “antitragus rise,” means a jutting cartilaginous nob, of varying sizes, that may, but not on all individuals, be situated in front and center of the middle of the cartilaginous lower-conchal ridge-wall at the lower conchal cave, also referred to here as the antitragal-ridge wall. All ears do not have said jutting protrusion at the mid-point of the antitragus, and herein said antitragus rise may be referred to as ranging from “extra-low-rise” to “extra-high-rise”.

The term “and/or” as used herein is to be interpreted as inclusive, meaning, “1 and/or 2” means any of the following: “1; 2; 1 and 2”. The term “and/or” as used herein is to be interpreted inclusively, or more specifically A, B, and/or C refers to any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C, B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition occurs when the combination of core components, portions, elements, features, steps, and functions, as defined hereto as essential core components and functionality without which the device and its sizing and fitting computerized method will not work safely to hold by way of fixed embedded or interchangeably connected means, weight levels up to 30 grams per each ear.

The term “weight levels up to at least about 30 grams per each ear” herein is to be interpreted as inclusive, meaning the device is capable of holding, via fixed adornments, or carrying, via interchangeably connected adornments, weight levels aggregated as a whole, weighing together including the base itself, up to at least about 30 grams per ear.

The term “chiral” and/or “chirality” herein means an ergonomic consideration to the property of asymmetry of each ear, the left and the right, as distinguishable from its mirror image and that cannot be superimposed onto one another. The chiral-engineered ear-fastener devices presently disclosed are not interchangeable. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A custom-fit fasten-on chiral earring base device for an individual's ear, the ear having an antitragus peak rise with adjacent dips; a concha with an inner conchal cavum pocket floor, a concha cavum wall, and a rear eminence of the concha; and a lobule, the base comprising: a frontal-display jewelry design fixture plate for placing heads and/or designs for setting precious gems and/or other jewelry; a front loop comprising a steep diverging-banded upper nexus above the frontal-display fixture that is a bend-angled fastening mount shaped like a backward-bent clothoid loop, said front loop serving as a mounting latch that reaches up and over, and simultaneously flanks, the antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips, while accommodating any relative differences in the height of each dip; an end loop portion on the front loop that extends to and engages the depth of the inner conchal cavum pocket floor at multiple points and forms a fulcrum for the base; a sharp curve at the device's lower-most portion that runs under and clears the longest tissue of the individual's ear lobule from front to back (about face) as disposed below the lower end of the frontal-display fixture location in front and joining with a lower rear-lobule portion in back; the lower rear-lobule portion connects to the curving lower-most portion on the lower side and to a rear hinge on the higher side, skimming past the rear lobule; the rear hinge selected from the group consisting of a click-back hinge, a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure hinge, a sway-to-snap hinge connected to the lower rear-lobule portion, another hinge construction, or their equivalents; an extended rear-fitter member that contacts the rear eminence of the concha at multiple points, and which is engaged and disposed at the rear hinge; wherein the opening between the front loop and the extended rear-fitter member is defined by the amount of pressure imposed on a thickness of the concha cavum wall when in closed hinging position, which will not be more than about 32,361 Pascals of pressure; and wherein the base when fastened into the conchal cavum pocket floor in front, clears the soft-tissue lobule at bottom, and is hinge-closed in rear such that the extended rear-fitter member spoons the rear eminence of the concha, and said base is coupled to the lower one-third of the ear including the area where traditional piercing earrings display décor.
 2. The base of claim 1, wherein the base is capable of safely and securely carrying adornments with weight levels up to and greater than about 30 grams per ear.
 3. The base of claim 1, further comprising an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed at the lowermost portion of the device onto which additional dangling décor may be onboarded.
 4. A method of making the base of claim 1 for the individual's ear, the individual's ear having a concha cavum pocket-depth, an antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, an antitragus ridge decline slope angle, an ear length below the antitragus ridge, and an ear lobule height, the method comprising: (a) measuring at least five ear variable measurements, the five ear variable measurements comprising (i) the concha cavum pocket-depth, (ii) the antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (iii) the antitragus ridge decline slope angle, (iv) the ear length below the antitragus ridge, and (v) the ear lobule height; and (b) fabricating the base to conform to the five ear variable measurements.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step before step (a) wherein the user (i) compares the ear to a plurality of prototype measurement guides that contain directions on taking measurements; (ii) selects the best match of the ear to one of the plurality of prototype measurement guides; and (iii) takes the measurements of step (a) according to the prototype measurement guide selected.
 6. A method of making the base of claim 1 for the individual's ear, the individual's ear having a concha cavum pocket-depth, an antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, an antitragus ridge decline slope angle, an ear length below the antitragus ridge, and an ear lobule height, the method comprising: (a) obtaining at least two photographs of the ear, wherein at least one photograph is from the perspective of looking directly at the ear and at least one photograph is from the perspective of looking directly at the ear with a concha cavum pocket-depth probe in place; (b) identifying a plurality of registration points on the photographs; (c) deriving at least five ear variable measurements from the registration points, the five ear variable measurements comprising (i) the concha cavum pocket-depth, (ii) the antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (iii) the antitragus ridge decline slope angle, (iv) the ear length below the antitragus ridge, and (v) the ear lobule height; and (d) fabricating the base to conform to the five ear variable measurements.
 7. A method of making the base of claim 1 for the individual's ear, the individual's ear having a concha cavum pocket-depth, an antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, an antitragus ridge decline slope angle, an ear length below the antitragus ridge, and an ear lobule height, the method comprising: (a) obtaining at least one photograph of the ear, wherein the at least one photograph is from the perspective of looking directly at the ear with a concha cavum pocket-depth probe in place; (b) matching the ear from one or more of the photographs to one of a plurality of templates and obtaining an estimate of the measurement of the concha cavum pocket-depth from the template; (c) detecting points on rail scales intersecting the antitragus ridge on at least one of the photographs to find the antitragus ridge decline slope with respect to vertical, estimated from the photograph; (d) detecting points on one or more of the photographs corresponding to the (i) antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (ii) ear length below antitragus ridge, and (iii) ear lobule height; (e) obtaining five ear variable dimension measurements from steps (b) through (d); and (f) fabricating the base to conform to the five ear variable dimension measurements.
 8. An earring base device, said base being capable of being mounted on an ear that has an antitragus peak rise and adjacent dips, a thickness of concha cavum cartilage, a rear eminence of the concha cavum cartilage, and an inner conchal cavum floor, the base comprising a first end oriented at least in part on the front of the base and a second end oriented at least in part on the rear of the base, said base further comprising: (a) a latch component on the first end, which is oriented on the front of the ear when the base is mounted, which comprises portions that reach up and over and simultaneously flank the ear's antitragus peak rise at its adjacent dips, and which further comprises an end loop portion that extends to the depth of the inner conchal cavum floor and contacts it at multiple points; (b) a rear component on the second end, which is oriented on the rear of the ear when the base is mounted, which comprises a rear-fitter member portion that contacts and spoons the rear eminence of the concha cavum cartilage at multiple points, and which when the base is mounted there are portions of the rear-fitter member portion that are anterior and higher in plane to the latch component in front; (c) said base when mounted on the ear is mounted onto the lower portion of the ear without using any piercing of the ear and without clamping onto the lobule of the ear; (d) said base when mounted on the ear engages a thickness of concha cavum cartilage at the front and the rear of the ear using the end loop portion of the latch component and the rear-fitter member portion of the rear component.
 9. The earring base device of claim 8, wherein the base further comprises a rear hinge selected from the group consisting of a click-back hinge, a stopgap hinge, a low-pressure hinge, a sway-to-snap hinge connected to the lower rear lobule portion, another hinge construction, or their equivalents, and said rear hinge is posterior to and it engages and disposes the rear-fitter member portion.
 10. The earring base device of claim 8, wherein the base further comprises a frontal-display fixture attached to the base and adornments, wherein the adornments are attached to either the frontal-display fixture or to an onboarding adaptor that is attached to the frontal-display fixture.
 11. The earring base device of claim 10, wherein the frontal-display fixture comprises (a) a center receiving socket for receiving decorative snap caps or (b) a slide-in socket for receiving T-bar backed adornments.
 12. The earring base device of claim 10, wherein the base further comprises a dangle onboarding bar or circle adaptor that is disposed at the center of the frontal-display fixture below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component and onto which adornments may be onboarded.
 13. The earring base device of claim 10 wherein the frontal-display fixture comprises sockets and tubes at the front.
 14. The earring base device of claim 10 wherein the frontal-display fixture comprises a round plate, the plate comprising a center receiving socket for receiving decorative snap caps.
 15. The earring base device of claim 8, further comprising a closed-ended circular-shaped adaptor or an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed on the lowermost portion of the device, and onto which additional adornments may be onboarded.
 16. The earring base device of claim 8, further comprising an open-ended slide-on adaptor that is disposed on the upper front portion of the latch component, and onto which pierced and/or clip-on earring body adornments, and/or other adornments, maybe onboarded.
 17. The earring base device of claim 8 wherein the base further comprises a frontal-display vertical fixture-wire band for attaching and displaying adornments on an onboarding upper slide-on adaptor, wherein the center of said band dips toward the lobule to clear adornments hanging from above the onboarding slide-on adaptor.
 18. The earring base device of claim 8, wherein the base further comprises permanently affixed onboarding adaptors at the middle and bottom of the device that, unlike slide-on adaptors, require a connector such as a spring or circular joiner to connect and onboard add-on décor.
 19. The earring base device of claim 8, wherein the base further comprises a frontal-display wire band and a tube, wherein the frontal-display wire band is attached to the front of the base, wherein the tube comprises an open-end that is disposed below and distal to the end loop portion of the latch component and which is also disposed at the center of the frontal-display wire band, wherein a brooch, pin or bent pierced-post earring may be inserted vertically into the tube.
 20. The earring base device of claim 8 that is capable of displaying adornments that are attached to the base that weigh about 30 grams or more.
 21. The earring base device of claim 8 further comprising adornments, wherein the adornments are removable and replaceable with other adornments.
 22. The earring base device of claim 8, wherein the base and/or adornments attached to the base, when the earring base device is worn on the ear, covers portions of the lobule of the ear that have been damaged, altered, or are otherwise not preferable.
 23. A method of making the earring base device of claim 8 to fit an individual ear, said method comprising fitting the base to the ear, the fitting the base to the ear comprising: (a) measuring at least five variable dimensions of the ear to obtain at least five measurements, wherein the five variable dimensions of the ear are (i) the concha cavum pocket-depth, (ii) the antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (iii) the antitragus ridge decline slope angle, (iv) the ear length below the antitragus ridge, and (v) the ear lobule height; and (b) fabricating and/or adjusting the base to match the at least five measurements.
 24. The method of making the earring devices of claim 23, said method further comprising (c) attaching ornamentation to the base, wherein the ornamentation is selected from the group consisting of precious metals and/or gems.
 25. A method of making the earring devices of claim 8 to fit individual ears, said method comprising fabricating individually grouped fit gauges of the base, the fabricating individually grouped fit gauges of the base comprising: (a) measuring at least five ear-variable-dimensions of a population of potential and/or targeted wearers to obtain at least five measurements for each such wearer, wherein the five variable dimensions of the ear are (i) the concha cavum pocket-depth, (ii) the antitragus width mid-dip to mid-dip, (iii) the antitragus ridge decline slope angle, (iv) the ear length below the antitragus ridge, and (v) the ear lobule height; (b) dividing the at least five measurements for each such wearer into groups that vary from one another by about 1 to about 3 millimeters for at least one of each of the five measurements; and (c) fabricating and/or adjusting bases that fit one or more of the groups of step (b).
 26. The method of making the earring devices of claim 25 further comprising a step (d) adjusting the fabricated bases of step (c) to individual ears.
 27. The method of making the earring devices of claim 26 further comprising (e) attaching ornamentation onto the base, wherein the ornamentation is selected from the group consisting of precious metals and/or gems, and wherein step (e) can be performed before or after step (d).
 28. A method for predicting demand for individual fit profiles based on a prior anthropomorphic statistical data with new predictions being informed by measurement data from device orders, the method comprising establishing a probability distribution that predicts the likelihood of fit profiles that are used to size various dimension of devices manufactured that can be used to plan the design and production of devices in anticipation of customer demand. 